Michigan
Wisconsin
Final Road Challenge Awaits as U-M Readies for No. 13 Badgers at Kohl Center
2/19/2026 9:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan hockey team (24-5-1, 15-4-1 Big Ten) will embark on its final road trip of the regular season this weekend, traveling to No. 13 Wisconsin (18-10-2, 11-9 Big Ten) for a two-game series at the Kohl Center in Madison. Puck drop is set for Friday (Feb. 20) at 7 p.m. CT and Saturday (Feb. 21) at 6 p.m. CT, with both games streaming on B1G+.
Notes
• Michigan enters the weekend with a 24-5-1 overall record, sitting in second place in the national poll -- as well as in the NPI (National Percentage Index).
• The Wolverines sit atop the Big Ten standings with 43 points and a 15-4-1 conference record. Michigan State ranks second with 39 points, followed by Penn State in third with 33, with both teams holding two games in hand. Wisconsin enters the weekend in fourth place with 30 points through 20 conference games.
• Michael Hage was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week this week after picking up five points against Penn State last series. He had three assists on four of Michigan's goals, and scored the winner in the shootout on Friday before adding two more on Saturday. Hage leads the nation in assists per game, averaging 1.00.
• Two of the nation's top three scorers wear the maize and blue, as T.J. Hughes ranks second nationally with 43 points in 30 games (1.43 points per game). Hage sits just one point behind with 42 points in 30 contests, averaging 1.40 points per game. Will Horcoff remains tied for second in the country in goals scored with 21 tucks.
• Freshman Jack Ivankovic was named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award last Friday (Feb. 13) by the Hockey Commissioners Association. Ivankovic is one of ten finalists for the award and the third Wolverine to be a finalist since the award's inception in 2014. Ivankovic owns an 18-5-1 record with a 2.13 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.
• Michigan ranks eighth nationally in faceoffs, winning 56.4 percent -- the best percentage in the Big Ten. Cole McKinney leads the way at 58.8 percent (247-173). Hughes is at 57.5 percent (325-240).
• The Wolverines are back on top in the nation in power play, converting at 30.6 percent with 34 total tallies, including three from the Penn State series. Wisconsin's penalty kill ranks 59th out of 63.
• Michigan leads the way in scoring offense with 4.70 goals per game, while Wisconsin's 3.73 goals per game is good enough for the No. 8 spot.
• U-M will return to Yost Ice Arena next for a two-game series against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, with games scheduled for Thursday (Feb. 26, 6:30 p.m.) and Friday (Feb. 27, 6 p.m.).
