Wisconsin men's hockey at #1 Michigan State: 5W preview
Who, what, why, when, where, and how to watch the Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team face the top-ranked Michigan State Spartans
Most programs, understandably, have records significantly under .500 when facing No. 1 teams. After all, that opponent would supposedly be the best team in the country and be favored over any other opponent. No. 7/8 Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey, however, has bucked those trends and hopes to buck another this weekend against the top-ranked Michigan State Spartans (9-1-0, 4-0-0 Big Ten).
Although Wisconsin (8-2-2, 4-2-0 Big Ten) has been impressive against ranked opponents throughout history, it has not been so fortunate on the road in East Lansing. With a familiar face, a stellar goaltender, and a potential early edge in the race for the conference title on the line, now would be as good a time as any for Wisconsin to exorcise some of its demons inside Munn Ice Arena.
Who to watch: Badger turned Spartan Charlie Stramel
The level of intrigue in a matchup with a former Wisconsin Badger turned Big Ten foe depends on how much that former UW skater is contributing with his new team. Charlie Stramel is indeed contributing at an elite level for the Spartans.
After spending two seasons in Madison, including the first year of the Mike Hastings era, Stramel sought out a new home. The Minnesota Wild’s 2023 first-round draft pick found it in East Lansing. He scored a career-high nine goals in his first year at Michigan State, including a game-winner over UW.
This season, the Rosemount, Minnesota native has taken it up another notch. While serving as an alternate captain, Stramel’s line has scored over 35% of the Spartans’ goals. He, along with his winger Daniel Russell, lead Michigan State with eight assists. Tallying 1.3 points per game, Stramel’s scoring output ranks 22nd nationally.
What to watch: Can Wisconsin get a better weekend defensively?
Wisconsin and Michigan State both boast prolific offenses. UW’s offense ranks third nationally, scoring 4.00 goals per game. MSU is close behind, scoring a sixth-best 3.7 times per game.
But the Spartans have undoubtedly been the better defensive team.
Backstopped by 2025 Mike Richter Award finalist Trey Augustine, Michigan State allows fewer than two goals per game. The Spartans have surrendered three or more goals only twice. MSU’s sole loss of the season came in the one game in which it allowed more than three goals.
Augustine and the Spartans’ defense have been impressive over the past two weeks. The netminder has taken home back-to-back Big Ten First Star of the Week honors. Last weekend against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Augustine posted a conference-leading .963 save percentage, allowing just two goals on 54 shots faced.
The Badgers, on the other hand, surrendered 11 goals in last weekend’s series against Ohio State. The most Wisconsin has allowed in a single weekend this season.
“We just weren’t the best version of ourselves without the puck. It was a little bit of that throughout the weekend. I thought we were loose,” Wisconsin head coach Mike Hastings said during his weekly radio show about his team’s defensive effort against the Buckeyes.” And I want to give Ohio State credit, I thought they pushed. And we just, we’re trying to shore up some things this week that are definitely doable.
“Making sure we’re getting back as a group of five. I thought we gave up too many outnumbered rushes, breakaways, opportunities that, you know, just, lack of responsibility in that is something that we’re working on this week.”
Being “loose” with the puck played a significant role in Wisconsin’s 5-1 loss in the series-opener, it falling behind 2-0 in the finale, and in coughing up a two-goal lead in the third period Saturday as the Badgers had to settle for only two points in an overtime victory.
More often than not, Wisconsin has been the beneficiary of some excellent goaltending. NCAA rookie goaltender Daniel Hauser has bailed the Badgers out of some tough spots, allowing Wisconsin’s aggressive forecheck to hunt extra possessions.
“Over the first ten games, I thought we had maybe nine of them that our goaltending was well above average,” Hastings assessed. “Daniel, you know, we left him on an island a little bit this last weekend.”
Against Ohio State, Wisconsin got burned for its lack of discipline. Against Michigan State, UW might not be able to afford to surrender any goal if it hopes to come out on top.
Why to watch: On the road against No. 1 in a tight Big Ten title race
Historically, top-ranked teams have not scared off the Badgers. Since the USCHO poll’s introduction in 1997, Wisconsin is 21-26-3 against the nation’s No. 1. In matchups when Wisconsin is ranked inside the top 20, it is 15-11-2 against top-ranked opponents. When a top-10 UW team, like the current squad, meets No. 1, Wisconsin is 9-2-2.
Just as fans are eager to see Wisconsin face off against one of the best teams in college hockey, Badgers captain Ben Dexheimer also realizes the opportunity at hand.
“It’s obviously exciting,” the senior defender said of facing No. 1 Michigan State. “They’re the best team in the country and they’re number one for a reason. Everyone wants to play the best, so I think that gets everyone a little bit more excited.”
Above and beyond the table stakes of No. 7 at. No. 1, the two highly-ranked teams are also tied atop the Big Ten. Wisconsin and Michigan State, along with the Michigan Wolverines, have each collected 11 conference points to date. With points at a premium in a league that boasts four teams in the top ten of the national rankings, this weekend could prove pivotal for either team to create some separation in the standings.
How to watch: Wisconsin Badgers hockey TV, time, radio
Where: Munn Ice Arena (capacity: 6,114) - Michigan State University - East Lansing, Michigan
Wisconsin has lost seven straight games in East Lansing. Four of those seven losses have come by just one goal. The last time the Badgers beat the Spartans on the road was in March of 2021.
“Every time we’ve played them, it’s been a battle,” Dexheimer said.
Game 1
When: Friday, November 21st, 2025, 7:30 p.m. Central
Watch/Streaming: Big Ten Plus
Listen/Radio: Badger Sports Network / 1310 AM WIBA / Varsity Network App (Play-by-play: Brian Posick; Analyst: Paul Capobianco)
Game 2
When: Saturday, November 22nd, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Watch/Streaming: Big Ten Plus
Listen/Radio: Badger Sports Network / 1070 AM The Game / Varsity Network App (Play-by-play: Brian Posick; Analyst: Paul Capobianco)
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