Friday morning skate

Good morning. The Mavericks are back home tonight and will take on the Wisconsin Badgers in their first home WCHA series of the season. A couple of notes on MSU: Kevin Murdock will start in goal tonight. ... Freshman forward Eli Zuck will make his debut. ... Ben Youds will go back to defense after a one-game emergency fill-in at forward. Now, let's see what everyone's writing about this week ...

I write about Kael Mouillierat this week, who became a dangerous goal scorer last year (although he's yet to find the back of the net this year).

The Wisconsin State Journal has some good stuff about the series, including a fun look at the Badgers' troubles in Mankato. Here is the series preview. Meanwhile, it looks like Badgers injured forward Blake Geoffrion has been cleared to play tonight, and junior transfer Brett Bennett will start in goal.

All 10 WCHA teams are in action against each other this weekend, a somewhat rare event:

Denver at Minnesota -- The Gophers appear to be going to a goaltending rotation now, while the Pioneers have been battling injuries and the flu.

Minnesota Duluth at St. Cloud State: The Bulldogs' high-powered hockey firm of Fontaine, Connolly and Connolly will take their act on the road, while the Huskies currently are paced by an unlikely leader.

Michigan Tech at Colorado College: It's early but the Tigers might have figured out their future goalie already. The Huskies, meanwhile are coming off an early bye week.

North Dakota at Alaska- Anchorage: For the Sioux, even if it doesn't show up in the box score, There Will Be Blood, while the Seawolves, who have talent on and off the ice, appear to be getting bigger.

Here are weekend previews and notebooks by USCHO and INCH.

Don't forget to check PucKato later tonight for a live blog during the game.