Rankings set up top-3 matchup this weekend for Wisconsin women’s hockey

The University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team’s return from a two-week break will come against the No. 1 team in the country.

Minnesota barely stayed atop the USCHO.com rankings on Monday and the Badgers remained at No. 3. The teams are scheduled to play at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at LaBahn Arena.

UW has been off since it won at Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 29 to split a series.

Minnesota lost to St. Cloud State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game last Monday and didn’t play last weekend.

A challenge with consequences: How Wisconsin coaches decide when to call for a replay

The Gophers went 3-0-1 against the Badgers last season after UW was 6-0-2 in the previous eight games.

Ohio State stayed No. 2 in the rankings and Minnesota Duluth again was No. 7 as the top nine spots were unchanged from last week.

Here’s the full USCHO poll, with first-place votes in parentheses:

1. Minnesota (10)

2. Ohio State (7)

3. Wisconsin (1)

4. Colgate

5. Quinnipiac

6. Yale (2)

7. Minnesota Duluth

8. Northeastern

9. Cornell

10. Clarkson

11. Penn State

12. Connecticut

13. Providence

14. Vermont

15. Princeton

This article originally ran on badgerextra.com.