The Wisconsin Badgers are on the road for their last true road trip of 2025, a weekend series in South Bend against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
It also marks the last Big Ten games for No. 2 Wisconsin until they take on Michigan State in mid-January, representing an opportunity to pause conference play on a high note and potentially take over the top spot, depending on what happens in the Michigan/Michigan State series this weekend.
Last time we saw Wisconsin (10-2-2, 6-2 B1G), they were busy sweeping
then-No. 1 Michigan State and bringing them back to earth. The tables are turned this weekend, as the Badgers now look to avoid stumbling from their perch.
Notre Dame (4-9-1, 0-6 B1G) is not having the year they envisioned. They are the only winless team remaining in Big Ten play, mustering only one point by virtue of taking Michigan to overtime in a game they eventually lost. The Irish are averaging barely over one goal per game in conference games.
One area Notre Dame has excelled in is the power play. Wisconsin leads the nation at 32.2 percent with the man advantage, but the Irish are right behind them at 31 percent, good for third in the country.
Defensively, the Badgers need to keep the Notre Dame power play unit off the ice. Wisconsin has done well this year to keep teams off its power play. They rank tenth in opponent power plays, though the top five are all Ivy League schools, with almost half the games played.
If the defense can keep the Irish away from special teams scenarios, the potential combination of Daniel Hauser and Eli Pulver has to like their chances to stifle Notre Dame, which has struggled in five-on-five hockey.
The Badgers have developed this sort of comeback persona after trailing early this year, but this trip to South Bend may have a different narrative in mind. In 14 games this season, Notre Dame has surrendered the first goal in 10 of them. It would be nice to see that trend continue with Wisconsin getting out to a hot start, but maybe they just like to get punched in the mouth first to bring them into the fight.
Both games from Compton Family Ice Arena will stream on Peacock, beginning with Friday’s series opener at 6 p.m. Game two on Saturday is slated for 4 p.m., the final men’s game before a three-week layoff ahead of the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off.
Game Info
Date: December 5-6
Time: Friday – 6:00 p.m. | Saturday – 4:00 p.m.
Place: South Bend, Ind. | Compton Family Ice Arena
TV: Peacock | Radio: 1310 WIBA/1070 The Game
