Conference realignment may have kept North Dakota off Wisconsin's schedule this season, but fate had other plans. The two former WCHA rivals are set to match up in the first round of the NCAA playoffs on Friday, which certainly adds to this weekend's excitement.

UW is the top seed at the Midwest regional in Cincinnati, Ohio., this weekend, while North Dakota checks in as the No. 4. The other side of the regional has 2nd-seeded Ferris State taking on Colgate.

In a curious twist of fate, it was the Badgers who allowed UND into the NCAA tournament. Had UW not beaten Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game last Saturday, North Dakota would not have earned an at-large berth into this weekend's NCAA tournament.

"It's almost as if the hockey gods made sure it happened this year that we were going to play them," Wisconsin junior defenseman Jake McCabe said. "Obviously they are huge rivals. They play very similar to us, they're hard to play against and it'll be a fun one."

Despite not playing against each other this season, Wisconsin and UND are very familiar with each other, which should take the "feeling out" process out of the early stages of Friday's NCAA quarterfinal match up.

"There's a rich history of great games and key moments," UW head coach Mike Eaves said. "Coming to the regional where you usually have an unknown opponent, this time we have history with our opponent. Both teams will be able to jump into the deep end and just play.

"Usually, you got to go in and spar and see what things they do. Both teams will be able to play full-on."

The Badgers are back in the NCAA tournament for the second season in a row, and are hoping to use the experience they gained last season in a loss vs. UMass-Lowell to help them in this tournament.

"Last year caught us by surprise a little bit and it was something we weren't ready for," senior center Jefferson Dahl said. "The way our team has carried ourselves this year has prepared us for this regional."

The Badgers enter the weekend as the top seed in the regional, and rightfully so according to North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol.

"We're an underdog in this game against a really good, veteran team," Hakstol said. "But we have the opportunity to play (Friday), and that's exciting for our group of guys within our locker room. And it's a fairly confident, loose bunch within our locker room."

Wisconsin offense

The Badgers' depth is readily apparent within their top two lines that feature four seniors and a couple underclassmen who have been playing some of the best hockey of their Wisconsin careers of late.

UW's top group, which is centered by Mark Zengerle, was a major factor when Wisconsin won the Big Ten championship last weekend in St. Paul. Zengerle scored the game winning goal in overtime during the title game, and Tyler Barnes notched the game-tying goal late in the third period. The underclassman of the group, Nic Kerdiles, had three assists in the championship game and has 20 points in his last nine games.

What makes the Badgers so dangerous is the ability to create offense with their second wave as well. Michael Mersch ranks seventh in the country in goals this season with 22, and helped Wisconsin advance to last weekend's title game with two goals in the semifinals in a 2-1 win over Penn State.

Mersch's line, which also features center Jefferson Dahl and left-winger Morgan Zulinick was strong all weekend in St. Paul. Dahl helped set up the game winning goal on Friday, and notched a crucial goal of his own to help lead the comeback on Saturday. Zulinick had a power play goal in the championship, and was as strong on the forecheck last weekend as he's ever been in a Wisconsin sweater.

Wisconsin defense and goaltenders

Everything on UW's back-end starts with Joel Rumpel between the pipes. If the Badgers are going to make a run at championship No. 7, Rumpel has to play at an elite level. Fortunately for Wisconsin, the Swift Current, Saskatchewan native has that ability.

Rumpel wasn't outstanding for the Badgers at the Big Ten tournament, but he stepped up when they needed him most. The junior netminder has taken his game to another level this season, and UW needs all that and more from him this weekend in Cincinnati.

One player I thought had an outstanding weekend in St. Paul was Kevin Schulze. He's rarely talked about because he doesn't put up huge point totals, but the sophomore blueliner continues to impress every time he's on the ice. Schulze is the best skater on the