Gophers men's hockey faces Wisconsin, needing help for a Big Ten title

Series preview: Gophers men vs. Wisconsin

8 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. Saturday, 3M Arena at Mariucci. TV: ESPNU Friday, BTN Saturday. Radio: 103.5-FM, 1130-AM both nights

Gophers at a glance: Minnesota (21-11, 16-6 Big Ten) enters the final regular-season series in second place, two points behind Michigan (51-49) for the conference lead. A Gophers sweep in regulation plus one Michigan loss at Notre Dame in regulation would give Minnesota the title. … Coach Bob Motzko said F Matthew Knies (undisclosed injury) and C Jaxon Nelson (foot) likely will play this weekend, but F Chaz Lucius (undisclosed) is 50-50 to play. … C Ben Meyers (11 goals, 18 assists, 29 points) shares the team scoring lead with F Blake McLaughlin (12-17-29).

Badgers at a glance: Wisconsin (9-20-3, 6-)15-1), the Big Ten regular-season champion last year, ended a six-game losing streak last Friday with a 5-3 win over Notre Dame before dropping the finale 3-2. … The Gophers got four of six points against the Badgers in early November, dropping the opener 4-3 in overtime before winning 4-1 in the finale. … Wisconsin is averaging 2.16 goals per game, which ranks 51st among the 59 Division I teams. … G Jared Moe, who spent two seasons with the Gophers before transferring to Wisconsin last offseason, is 7-13-3 with a 2.96 GAA and .915 save percentage in 23 starts.

Gophers land recruit: Benilde-St. Margaret's senior defenseman and captain Brady Yakesh announced on Twitter that he has verbally committed to the Gophers. Yakesh, 5-9 and 174 pounds, has 10 goals and 30 assists in 25 games this season.