56 // VARSITY February 27, 2014
INSIDE
WOMEN'S HOCKEY
Déjà vu: Badgers open
playoffs vs. Mavericks
UW, Minn. State meet for second-straight week
BY AJ HARRISON @BADGERWHOCKEY
I
n the words of Wisconsin
head coach Mark Johnson,
the first phase of the 2013-
14 season is over, and now
it's time for the Badgers to
prepare for the second phase,
WCHA playoffs.
The quest for the WCHA
Final Face-Off title begins at
home for Wisconsin against a
familiar opponent: Minnesota
State. The Badgers and Maver-
icks wrapped up a series last
weekend in Mankato, and will
face each other at LaBahn Are-
na again this weekend.
"The challenge becomes
they'll have an opportunity to
make some adjustments after
they look at the two games
that we just played them,"
Johnson said. "We'll spend this
week working on some things
to improve some areas that
will help us be successful this weekend.
"It comes down to the players going
out and playing the way they've played
all season."
The Badgers have the Mavericks' num-
ber this year, as UW swept the season se-
ries, outscoring MSU 16-3. However, the
Mavericks have been playing well of late,
sweeping then-No. 4 North Dakota two
weeks ago.
Wisconsin enters the conference play-
off as the No. 2 seed, while Minnesota
State earned the No. 7 seed. The two will
square off on Friday and Saturday in 7
p.m. contests, while a third game will be
played Sunday at 4 p.m, if necessary.
"I'm sure we will be focused and en-
ergized because the regular season, it's
long, it's grinding," Johnson said. "Now
you have an opportunity for a two week
tournament.
"I think everybody in our locker room
is excited about that opportunity."
WCHA TICKETS ON SALE
● Tickets for Wisconsin's WCHA first-
round playoff series at LaBahn Arena
are on sale. Tickets are available to
purchase in person at the Athletic
Ticket Office at Camp Randall Stadi-
um, over the phone at 1-800-GO-BAD-
GERS or online at UWBadgers.com.
Only tickets for Feb. 28 and March
1 are available for purchase at this
time. The series winner will advance
to the WCHA Final Face-Off in Bemi-
dji, Minn., on March 7 and 8.
SCHEDULE (25-5-2, 21-5-2-1)
LAST WEEK
Feb. 21 at Minnesota State W, 5-1
Feb. 22 at Minnesota State W, 3-1
COMING UP - WCHA PLAYOFFS
Friday Minnesota State 7 p.m.
Saturday Minnesota State 7 p.m.
