Gadowsky said the hostility was \u201cjust hockey.\u201d And while Penn State owns a 99% chance of making the NCAA Tournament, according to Playoffstatus.com<\/a>, its coach refuses to take the Badgers lightly.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not in yet. It’s not mathematically locked yet. So I think that’s important to know,\u201d Gadowsky said. \u201cThis is a great dress rehearsal for what playoff hockey is going to be like \u2026 Wisconsin needs to win to get in. We need to win to mathematically lock it up. I think this is going to be a great opportunity as a dress rehearsal for the playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n Head men’s hockey coach Guy Gadowsky answers questions during a press conference in Pegula Ice Arena on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 in University Park, Pa.<\/p>\n Megan Miller<\/p>\n Scouting Wisconsin<\/p>\n Wisconsin was rolling early en route to a 15-3-2 record through its first 20 games. But it\u2019s been a bumpy ride since.<\/p>\n The Badgers are just 4-8 over their last 12 contests, including a six-game losing streak that dropped them outside the USCHO\u2019s top 10. And despite that recent slide, Penn State defenseman Jarod Crespo said the team refuses to look past what it expects to be another competitive series.<\/p>\n \u201cThis weekend is a precursor to playoffs,\u201d Crespo said. \u201c(Wisconsin) is fighting for a spot. We’re still fighting for a spot, as much as it doesn’t look like it. This is going to be playoff hockey this weekend, so to kind of keep that edge, just focus on this weekend and play like it’s a playoff game both nights.\u201d<\/p>\n Gavin Morrissey leads Wisconsin with 29 points and 23 assists \u2014 seven more helpers than his next closest teammate. Morrissey didn\u2019t play in the January series between these teams, so this will be his first look at this year\u2019s Nittany Lions.<\/p>\n Christian Fitzgerald, who in January recorded two points against Penn State, and Quinn Finley are Wisconsin\u2019s top goal scorers. Fitzgerald\u2019s 15 goals pace the Badgers and are tied for the eighth-most in the Big Ten.<\/p>\n Daniel Hauser has started 23 of Wisconsin\u2019s 32 games in net. The freshman goaltender sports a 16-6-2 record, which ranks third in the Big Ten, and a 2.48 goals-against average that ranks fourth.<\/p>\n The S-Zone displays Penn State’s colors of blue and white during the men’s hockey game against Michigan State at Pegula Ice Arena on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Spartans shutout the Nittany Lions 5-0.<\/p>\n Tyler Mantz<\/p>\n White Out Energy<\/p>\n Friday\u2019s contest will serve as Penn State\u2019s annual White Out game, which encourages fans to wear white and create an electric atmosphere rarely seen across college hockey.<\/p>\n The Nittany Lions knocked off then-No. 2 Minnesota in last year\u2019s \u201cWear White\u201d game. They\u2019ll look to replicate that success amid a sea of white in their regular-season finale \u2014 one that could hold major seeding implications ahead of the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the White Out. It\u2019s one of the weekends we look forward to,\u201d senior defenseman Carter Schade said. \u201cIn all three years I\u2019ve had here, it\u2019s the craziest atmosphere I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE HOCKEY COVERAGE<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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