The Badgers enter the two-game series needing wins on both nights to keep their Big Ten regular season championship hopes alive.

S enior forward Lee Reimer had one of the Spartans’ two goals in the last weekend series against Wisconsin. He said the Badgers are sound in all facets of the game, making them tough to play against. 

"They’re just a strong team,” Reimer said. “They play their systems really well, they don’t give you much room or much openings (and) they don’t make too many mistakes.”

Reimer added that it will be beneficial for the Spartans to play on a smaller ice surface back home than up in Madison, Wis., at the Kohl Center.

Although MSU (10-16-7, 4-8-6) has two games left on its Big Ten slate before the tournament next weekend, the Spartans’ first round matchup has already been set. Regardless of this weekend’s results, MSU will battle Ohio State in the first round of the conference tournament. MSU, however, could move up to the fourth seed in the tournament, making them the home team and giving the Spartans the final line change.

MSU will be honoring six seniors, who will be playing their final game at Munn Ice Arena on Saturday evening, with a senior night presentation before the game.

Senior forward Greg Wolfe will be one of six players honored Saturday evening as he plays in his final home game as a Spartan. Wolfe said he expects the green and white to come out swinging this weekend, looking to send the seniors out with a few more home wins.

“It’s our last two home games as seniors, as Spartans, so obviously we want to play really well,” Wolfe said. “It’ll be kind of a bittersweet experience, but were focused on trying to get some points out of this weekend and some wins.”

Wolfe added he also wants to see the team progress and playing its best hockey going into next weekend’s Big Ten Tournament.

The goaltending position will be another area for fans and alumni to watch out for this weekend. 

Head coach Tom Anastos said he was unsure who will be in net for MSU this weekend.

Senior goaltender Will Yanakeff came in to replace sophomore Jake Hildebrand last Saturday in a comeback win against No. 13 Michigan.

“Hildey has carried a lot of the load and really demonstrated he can perform and I think it’s important to get his confidence level where it needs to be,” Anastos said on Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “Yet, at the same time, it was nice to see what Will did and we know what he is capable of, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we played both guys on the weekend.”