Around the Big Ten Hockey: Week 12

Story posted February 9, 2018 in CommRadio, Sports by Tom Johnston

As we enter the final two to three weeks of conference play in the Big Ten. Notre Dame continues to dominate and leads the pack with 47 points and only two conference loses. Not far behind them is Ohio State with 34 points and the second-fewest conference loses with six. 

No. 1 overall ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been nothing but exceptional in their first season in the Big Ten for hockey. Last weekend, they made their first-ever trip to Pegula Ice Arena to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in a weekend matchup that had Pegula packed for both games. However, in the first game of the series Notre Dame got the victory 5-3 and the second game ended in a tie which Notre Dame won in a shootout. The Irish took the season series 4-0

This weekend, the Irish welcome current No. 6 and the team that sits below them in the Big Ten Standings Ohio State for a weekend series in South Bend. Both teams met earlier in the season in Columbus where the Irish took both games 4-1 and 3-2 respectively. Notre Dame comes into the series with an overall record of 21-5-2 and 15-2-1 in Big Ten play.

Last weekend, Oho State had a weekend series with struggling Michigan State. However, the two teams split the series the Buckeyes won the first game 4-2 and the Spartans won the latter 6-3. Ohio State currently has an overall record of 18-6-4 and 11-6-1 in Big Ten Conference play.

Below both Notre Dame and Ohio State in the conference is No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers. Last weekend, the Badgers visited Ann Arbor for a series with No. 16 Michigan Wolverines where both teams took a game each with the Wolverines taking the first game 5-3 and Wisconsin taking the latter game 4-2. Wisconsin has an overall record of 14-13-0 and 8-9-2 in Big Ten play.

This weekend, the Badgers will welcome No. 9 Minnesota Golden Gophers for a weekend series. Both teams met earlier in the season in Minnesota where it was a split series Minnesota won the first game 5-4 and Wisconsin won the latter game 3-2. Minnesota has an overall record of 16-13-1 and 7-10-1 in Big Ten conference play.

Behind the Badgers is No. 16 Michigan Wolverines. Last weekend, the Wolverines and Badgers went at it for a weekend series. Where both teams split. This weekend, the Wolverines will face off against the Michigan State Spartans in a home-and-home series with the first game being played in East Lansing and the second in Ann Arbor. Both teams played each other in a series earlier in the season the same exact way with the Wolverines taking game one in Ann Arbor 4-0 but losing the latter game in East Lansing 5-0. The Spartans are coming off a weekend split with the Buckeyes losing the first game 4-2 but winning the latter 6-3. Michigan’s overall record is 13-13-2 and 8-10-2 in Big Ten. The Spartans overall record is 10-16-1 and 4-12-1 in Big Ten play.

Lastly, Penn State has the week off of Big Ten action. Overall, they are 13-12-5 and 6-9-5 in Big Ten play. Last weekend, they lost to Notre Dame in the first game 5-3 and lost the second game via the shootout. They are on a seven-game losing streak. They face the Spartans on the road when they come back.

 

Tom Johnston is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email taj5211@psu.edu.