Key notes to consider
• Wisconsin will make its seventh Frozen Four appearance, reaching the round of four in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012.
• The Badgers have advanced to the national title game in each of their previous six Frozen Four appearances.
• The Cardinal and White sport a 17-3 record in NCAA tournament games, the best record in NCAA history.
• Despite trailing the series against Minnesota, the Badgers hold a 2-1 advantage against the Gophers in NCAA postseason games. Wisconsin defeated Minnesota in the 2006 NCAA title game and in the quarterfinals in 2008, while UW fell to Minnesota in the 2012 NCAA title contest.
• The Badgers are a perfect 4-0 in games played in the state of Connecticut, sweeping UConn in 2002 in Storrs, Conn., and sweeping Quinnipiac in 2005.
• The Badgers sport one of the nation’s best special teams unit, as their power play ranks fourth with a 23.4 conversion rate, while the penalty kill has a conversion rate of 92.5, the third-best mark nationally.
• Alex Rigsby ranks third in the nation in goals against average (1.17) and is second in save percentage (.950).
• Junior Blayre Turnbull is tied for the nation’s lead in shorthanded goals with five, which is the most in school history. Turnbull’s seven career short-handed goals rank third on the school’s all-time list.
Against Minnesota
• The Badgers trail the series against Minnesota 26-39-8.
• The Gophers have won the past 10 meetings between the schools, and the last UW win occurred on Oct. 14, 2011.
• The Cardinal and White does hold a 8-5 record against UM in postseason play, and a 2-1 ledger in NCAA tournament games.
About Minnesota
• The Golden Gophers enter the weekend with 37-1-1 record.
• Minnesota is making its third-straight and 10th overall Frozen Four appearance. The Gophers enter the 2014 Frozen Four as back-to-back national champions and are on a 25-game unbeaten streak (24-0-1).
• The Gophers lead the nation in scoring offense, averaging 4.77 goals per contest, while holding its opponents to 1.05 goals per game, the best mark in the NCAA.
Minnesota also sports the nation’s best power-play unit, converting 32.5 percent of its chances with a man advantage.
• Three Gophers have reached the 50-point mark this season in national points leader Hannah Brandt (22 goals-41 assists), Rachael Bona (21g-37a) and Kelly Terry (21g-29a). Sarah Davis (19g-28a) and Rachel Ramsey (12g-31a) have surpassed the 40-point mark for the first time in their careers as well.
• Fourteen Gophers are in double-digits for scoring, including nine players with at least 30 points.
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/w-hockey/This-Week-in-W-Hockey.html