INSIDE WOMEN'S HOCKEY BY ROSS LADUE @BadgerWHockey SCHEDULE
Last Four Sept. 23 Lindenwood Sept. 25 Lindenwood Oct. 8 Oct. 9
This Week Friday
Next Five Oct. 21 Oct. 22
W, 11-0 W, 13-0
#6 North Dakota W, 5-2 #6 North Dakota W, 3-2 (OT)
#3 Minnesota Sunday #3 Minnesota
7 p.m. 2 p.m.
Oct. 28 #4 Boston Univ. Oct. 29 #4 Boston Univ. Nov. 4
at Ohio State
at #7 Minn. Duluth 7 p.m. at #7 Minn. Duluth 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m.
Gophers stand in way of record » The women's hockey team is cur- rently on a 31-game unbeaten streak, in which the Badgers haven't lost since Nov. 28, 2011. The NCAA record for the longest unbeaten streak in women's hock- ey is 32 games, which UW set back in 2007.
Defense crucial in UW T
he most notable stats from last weekend's
sweep over North Dakota might be Carolyne Prévost's hat trick, or Hilary Knight's game winner in overtime. However, a major stat from the series gets little notice. The Sioux starting for- ward line, which consisted of three Olympic medal win-
sweep of North Dakota A strong defense key to winning in WCHA
ners, was kept to a combined plus/minus rating of -12 for the weekend. The defense as whole only allowed one even strength goal against UND, with one coming while down two play- ers. In the WCHA, where al- most every one has a potent offense, it's a good defense that will win championships.
The Badgers only need one more non-loss to tie the record and two more to break it. While two ties against Minnesota wouldn't be the most spectacular way to set a record, it would be fitting to do it against the No. 3 team in the na- tion and the Badgers' oldest rival.
What to expect this weekend » Gopher head coach Brad Frost has called this years' squad his best ever, as UM returns 97 percent of its goal production from last year and an All-America goalie. Don't expect more than one- or two-goal games. Defense and special teams will decide the outcome.
