Wisconsin Badgers
#19/18 Minnesota
Quick Six Border Battle: No. 14 Wisconsin opens Big Ten play with No. 19/18 Minnesota
October 28, 2025 | Men's Hockey
Badgers wrap six-game homestand when Gophers visit for Thursday/Saturday series
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MADISON, Wis. – The No. 14 Wisconsin men's hockey team begins Big Ten conference play when the No. 19/18 Minnesota Golden Gophers visit the Kohl Center for a Border Battle series on Thursday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and Nov. 1.
Thursday's game starts at 8 p.m. and airs on the Big Ten Network, while Saturday's contest begins at 6 p.m.and streams on B1G+.
Here are six quick things to know before tuning in:
Rosters: Badgers || Gophers
1 - OFF TO A HOT START: Wisconsin enters the weekend undefeated after earning a sweep of Alaska last weekend. UW's 4-0-2 record to start the season marks the fourth time in the modern era of the program (since 1963) that it opened a season with at least a six-game unbeaten streak (2000-01, 1981-82, 1973-74).
The Badgers have also risen to No. 14 in the USCHO poll with 325 votes, their highest spot since ranking No. 9 in the Oct. 7, 2024, poll. Wisconsin has stayed steady in the top 20 this season, starting at No. 20 in the preseason poll before jumping to No. 18 on Oct. 6 and No. 17 on Oct. 13, where it remained for two weeks before moving up to No. 14.
Movin' up⬆️ pic.twitter.com/JuDQ33YDPr
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 27, 2025
2 - DEPTH ON DISPLAY: The Badgers' depth has been on display lately, with eight different skaters combining to tally UW's nine goals scored in its series against Alaska last weekend.
On Friday, Simon Tassy, Kyle Kukkonen, Jack Horbach, Joe Palodichuk and Ryan Botterill found the back of the net, with Kukkonen, Horbach and Palodichuk's goals all being their first of the season. On Saturday, Logan Hensler and Blake Montgomery netted their first goals of the year (and Montgomery's first collegiate goal) as Quinn Finley and Botterill also lit the lamp.
ON REPEAT 🔁
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 26, 2025
Another look at Blake Montgomery's first NCAA goal! pic.twitter.com/pbfPGErbZ4
"For us to continue to develop as a team, what we need right now is for the Tassys, the Fitzgeralds, the Finleys, the Morrisseys, to not have to carry us, and have some of those young guys contribute," said Head Coach Mike Hastings. "Deering did it in game one. You saw Montgomery do it this last weekend. As we can continue, through the addition of the young players, with our old guys driving the bus, now all of a sudden you become a depth-type team. That's harder to match up against."
Through six games so far this season, 15 different skaters have lit the lamp – 65-percent of UW's roster (not including goaltenders). Additionally, 20 skaters – all but two UW skaters who have played in a game so far – have at least a point, and the only two without a tally have only skated in two games apiece.
3 - RALLY TOWEL GIVEAWAY - WHITE OUT: While supplies last, fans who attend Saturday's 6 p.m. game against Minnesota will receive a white Border Battle rally towel to help us white out the Kohl Center! Fans are encouraged to wear white or light clothing to the game.
This weekend's games mark the second-to-last home series for UW during the fall semester as Ohio State comes to town on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14-15. Friday's game is Wisconsin Day, and there will be a cow print glove giveaway for students while supplies last. View the full promotions schedule here.
"You can feel that energy in the building," said Head Coach Mike Hastings on playing at the Kohl Center. "Our guys can feel it on the bench. I understand we have to do our part, but when they're in the building it definitely gives us a greater advantage. I think this place becomes difficult to play in because if we do something that's worth someone getting out of their seats, they do. Our student section has been fantastic – we need that to continue."
4 - LAST TIME OUT: To reach the midway point of its six-game homestand, the Alaska Nanooks came to town on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25. The Badgers recorded their second sweep of the season, posting 5-3 and 4-1 wins to remain undefeated.
Five different goal scorers contributed on Friday, including Simon Tassy, who opened the scoring at 6:45 of the first period when he deflected a shot into the back of the net on the power play. At 14:10 into the frame, Kukkonen doubled Wisconsin's lead with another power-play goal. UW netted its third three-goal period of the season after Palodichuk lit the lamp at 19:53 into the frame. Alaska struck twice in the second, once 3:20 into the frame and again at 8:29, to make it a 3-2 game. Horbach scored a short-handed goal 10:18 into the final period to help the Badgers regain their two-goal lead, but the Nanooks scored again 15:08 into the third with an extra attacker to close the gap to one goal. To seal a Badgers victory, Botterill lit the lamp at 19:14 to make the final score, 5-3.
Unbeaten in five. Let's keep it going tonight.
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 25, 2025
6 p.m. at the Kohl Center pic.twitter.com/jPWG3PhsIZ
Alaska took an early lead on Saturday on a deflected shot just 8:55 into the game, but with 21 seconds left in the opening frame, Finley tallied to tie the game with a power-play goal. After a scoreless second period, Wisconsin scored three times in the third, including twice in the opening two minutes of the frame, with Hensler and Montgomery lighting the lamp at 1:04 and 2:00 into the period, respectively. Botterill found the empty net, 15:40 into the third, to make it a 4-1 game and clinch the Badgers' sweep.
Fun weekend sweep this past weekend at the Kohl Center, but...
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 27, 2025
It's Gopher Week pic.twitter.com/ga9i3Mca1p
5 - SCOUTING THE GOPHERS: The Gophers own a 2-5-1 record through eight games and enter the weekend after getting swept by then-No. 18/19 Minnesota Duluth at home, losing game one, 3-0, and game two, 4-1.
Senior forward Brody Lamb leads the team with four goals and seven points. Junior goaltender Nathan Airey has one win and one tie in five starts, accumulating a .904 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-allowed on average.
"Anytime you're playing in conference, it's incredibly important for two reasons: your standings, which determine your playoffs, and then building your book of business," said Coach Hastings. "For us it's about trying to defend our home ice and getting off to a good start within our conference so we can potentially play in our own building come playoff time. There's a lot of things that are tied up into what starting your conference play is, but I know our guys are excited about it and I'm sure Minnesota is too."
6 - HOW TO WATCH: Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. on Thursday and 6 p.m. on Saturday. Thursday's game airs on the Big Ten Network with Chris Vosters and Ben Clymer on the call, while Saturday's game streams on B1G+. Audio play-by-play can be found on 1310 WIBA as well as on the Badgers app and The Varsity Network app. You can also follow along on X/Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey.
