Spartan Faceoff: MSU vs. Wisconsin, Minnesota

• Times and site: In the 16th annual College Hockey Showcase, MSU plays Wisconsin at 8 tonight at the 15,237-seat Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., and at Minnesota at 8 p.m. Saturday at 10,000-seat Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.

• TV/radio: Tonight, none; Saturday, Big Ten Network/ WVFN 730-AM, tonight; WJIM 1240-AM, Saturday.

• Records - Wisconsin 5-7-2 overall, 5-5-2 WCHA (tied for 3rd); Minnesota 7-1-4 overall, 6-1-3 WCHA (1st), ranked No. 1 by USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine; MSU 4-8-2 overall, 2-6-2-2 CCHA (tied for 10th).

• Coaches: Wisconsin - Mike Eaves, 7th season (128-103-32); Minnesota - Don Lucia, 10th season at Minnesota (239-113-38), 22nd overall (525-269-21; MSU - Rick Comley, 7th season, 36th overall (146-93-26, 743-568-97).

• Showcase history: Minnesota has the best record in the series at 16-10-4, followed by Michigan (17-12-1), MSU (13-12-5) and Wisconsin (8-20-2). The Spartans are 10-4-1 against the Badgers but only 1-3-1 over the last five seasons. MSU is 3-8-4 against the Gophers, 0-3-2 over the last five years.

• Rivalries: MSU is 49-39-3 vs. Wisconsin in a series which started with a 9-2 home win for the Spartans on Dec. 11, 1964. Minnesota is 100-41-1 against the Spartans in a series that started with a 2-0 Gophers victory on Feb. 29, 1926.

• Badgers to watch: Junior forwards Blake Geoffrion (7-3-10) and John Mitchell (5-1-6), freshman forward Derek Stepan (2-5-7), junior defenseman Jamie McBain (3-12-15), sophomore defensemen Brendan Smith (4-7-11) and Ryan McDonagh (4-4-8), senior goaltender Shane Connelly (4-5-2, 3.15 goals-against average, .905 saves percentage).

• Badgers update: Geoffrion, the team's third-leading scorer, is the grandson of NHL Hall of Famer Bernie (Boom Boom) Geoffrion, who played 16 seasons in the NHL with the Canadiens and Rangers. Freshman forward Jordy Murray is the son of St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray. The power play is clicking at 18.7 percent.

• Gophers to watch: Junior forwards Ryan Stoa (10-9-19), Jay Barriball (5-7-12) and Mike Carmen (4-6-10), freshman forward Jordan Schroeder (6-11-17), sophomore defenseman Cade Fairchild (2-8-10), freshman defenseman Aaron Ness (0-4-4) and sophomore goaltender Alex Kangas (7-1-4, 2.03, .929).

• Gophers update: Minnesota is No. 1 for the second consecutive week, despite suffering its first loss - 4-0 at Denver last Saturday - and ending an 11-game unbeaten streak. Kangas has given the Gophers top-level goaltending, an ingredient they haven't had for awhile. There's only two seniors on a roster that includes 17 NHL draft picks.

• Spartans update: MSU's six-game losing streak is the longest since 1980-81 when it lost eight in row. The Spartans' five goals over six games is the worst drought in program history. This weekend will be MSU's first games this season on big ice surfaces. The Kohl Center is 97 feet wide while Mariucci Arena is Olympic size at 100 feet, 15 feet wider than most rinks. The Spartans hope junior defenseman Ryan Turek and freshman forward Andrew Conboy, who's from Minnesota, have recovered from injuries and can return to the lineup. They give MSU more of a physical presence due to their size and strength.

• Analysis: The Spartans are due to put together a strong game and get some bounces that lead to goals. And maybe their opponent will have an off night. It's unlikely that's going to happen against Minnesota, but perhaps MSU can stay with Wisconsin in a tight game tonight and find a way to pull out a win and end its frustrating losing streak. Of course, goaltending must be outstanding and some forwards have to make some big plays. Who that will be is anyone's guess.

Compiled by Neil Koepke

- By Neil Koepke