COLLEGE HOCKEY: NOTRE DAME AT WISCONSIN

By JOHN FINERAN

With two regular-season series remaining, the Notre Dame hockey team, assured of finishing last in the Big Ten Conference, starts preparations for the league’s postseason tournament when it goes on the road for the second straight weekend, this time to long-time rival Wisconsin. Both teams are mired in losing streaks – Notre Dame four games and Wisconsin six.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday nights at 8:30 p.m. EST.

WHERE: Kohl Center (15,539), Madison, Wis.

RADIO: WSBT-AM (960), WSBT-FM (96.1) and UND.com (Tyler Reidy).

TV/STREAMING: Big Ten Network

SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH: Notre Dame enters the series with 9-20-1 overall record and is 3-16-1 Big Ten for 11 points (seventh place) after 5-3 and 3-2 setbacks last weekend at Penn State. … Sophomore center Cole Knuble leads team in scoring with nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points in 26 games, an average of 1.15 per game which is 15th nationally. … Senior left wing and captain Justin Janicke (11-15-26) and graduate right wing Blake Biondi (12-10-22), whose team-leading seven power-play goals are tied for ninth nationally, are next in scoring. … Sophomore Danny Nelson (11-10-21), sophomore left wing Brennan Ali (6-11-17) and senior Hunter Strand (6-6-12) are the other forwards scoring in double figures. … Sophomore Paul Fischer (2-16-18), junior Axel Kumlin (4-12-16), junior Michael Mastrodomenico (3-8-11) and senior Ryan Helliwell (1-6-7) lead the defense. … Junior Owen Say (2.95 goals-against average, .915 saves percentage, 7-12-0 record) started in goal both games last weekend with freshman Nicholas Kempf (3.60 goals-against average, .897 saves percentage, 2-8-1 record) in reserve. … Graduate defenseman Zach Plucinski (0-2-2) leads team with 44 blocked shots followed by Fischer (43) and sophomore defenseman Henry Nelson (37). … Danny Nelson (364-274, .571) is team’s leader in faceoff wins and percentage followed by Strand (210-189, .526) and Knuble (170-155, .523).

NCAA statistics: Scoring offense, 2.67 goals per game (44th); scoring defense, 3.37 goals per game (57th); scoring margin, -0.70 goals per game (50th); power-play percentage, 0.227 (20 of 88) (20th); penalty-kill percentage, 0.780 (71 of 91) (42nd); faceoff-win percentage, 0.520 (970-895) (19th); penalty minutes per game, 9.60 (28th).

Coach: Jeff Jackson, who owns two degrees from Michigan State, is 416-286-74 in his 20th and final season at Notre Dame (he announced his upcoming retirement prior to season) with NCAA Frozen Four appearances in 2008, 2011, 2017 and 2018 and eight conference titles. … His 598-338-99 overall record includes a 182-52-25 record in six seasons at Lake Superior State where his teams won national championships in 1992 and 1994 and finished runner-up in 1993. … Jackson also was the first coach and senior director of the United States National Team Development Program when it was formed in 1996, leading Team USA to the silver medal at the 1997 World Junior Championships, then the team’s best finish ever.

SCOUTING THE BADGERS: Wisconsin enters series with 11-18-3 overall record and is 6-15-1 Big Ten for 24 points (sixth place) after losing 4-1 and 4-2 at Ohio State. … Sophomore left wing Quinn Finley (19-15-34) leads Badgers in scoring, followed by fifth-year right wing Ryland Mosley (14-17-31), freshman center Gavin Morrissey (9-21-30), junior right wing Kyle Kukkonen (8-9-17), junior defenseman Ben Dexheimer (1-15-16), junior center Christian Fitzgerald (6-9-15), junior left wing Tyson Dyck (3-8-11), freshman defenseman Logan Hensler (2-9-11) and fifth-year defenseman Anthony Kehrer (0-10-10). … In Saturday’s 4-2 loss at Ohio State, Morrissey centered for Finley and Kukkonen and Fitzgerald was between Mosley and Dyck. … Senior-transfer (from RIT) Tommy Scarfone (2.52 goals-against average, .901 saves percentage, 9-13-3 record, 3 shutouts) has seen the most time in goal, sharing duties with William Gramme (3.32 goals-against average, .877 saves percentage, 2-4-0 record) and Anton Castro (4.27 goals-against average, .786 saves percentage, 0-1-0 record). … Dexheimer leads team with 47 blocked shots followed by freshman defenseman Jack Phelan (40) and Kehrer (37). … Morrissey is third nationally in faceoff wins with 382 and sixth-year center Owen Lindmark is 14th with 324.

NCAA statistics: Scoring offense, 2.88 goals per game (30th); scoring defense, 2.94 goals per game (35th); scoring margin, -0.06 goals per game (35th); power-play percentage, 0.220 (24 of 109) (24th); penalty-kill percentage, 0.816 (62 of 76) (22nd); faceoff-win percentage, 0.553 (1061-859) (3rd); penalty minutes per game, 8.53 (44th).

Coach: Mike Hastings, a 1993 graduate of St. Cloud State, is 37-30-5 in his second season at Wisconsin and is 336-139-30 in his 13^th season overall. … He spent his first 11 seasons as head coach of Minnesota State where his teams compiled a 299-109-25 record, qualifying nine times for NCAA tournaments with two Frozen Four appearances in 2021 and 2022 (runner-up).

QUOTING IRISH COACH JEFF JACKSON

(Last weekend at Penn State) “It was frustrating. I thought we played pretty well after the first period Friday night. We had a lot of good scoring chances to at least tie the game or get ahead. But we’re still having a difficult time finishing at times. When you play well and don’t win, it’s a little bit frustrating. I know that applies to the players and the coaches. It’s much better than the alternative playing games in which we’re not playing as well. I thought we did a lot of good things. Offensively, I thought we did some good things. Areas we’ve been focusing on – trying to do a better job on our transition. I thought they got behind us in the first period Friday. It’s up to our forwards, too, to make sure they don’t have the chance to get behind you by putting pressure on them in their own end. I thought we did a good job of that after the first period, and a much better job of that on Saturday night.”

(Is it a matter of finishing?) “No question. The last couple of weeks (Ohio State and Penn State) we’ve run into some pretty good goaltenders. The difference is I thought we played much better this past weekend, although I felt we played well on Saturday against Ohio State. It’s so hard to be positive when you don’t win. My whole thing right now is about making progress so when we go into the playoffs we’re playing well and giving ourselves a chance to win a playoff series to start and then go from there.”

(Goaltender Owen Say’s play at Penn State) “I thought he played well. I wouldn’t have come back to him if I didn’t think he had a good game Friday night. The unfortunate thing is, even though I thought he played well, the other goaltender (Ohio State and Wisconsin) has outplayed our goalies in number of saves and saves percentage. We’re defending better in front of him, which helped.”

(What is needed to win) “We still need to try and give up one less goal a game and try to score one more. If we’re going to win, we need to get to that magic number of three (goals scored) and keep the opponent to two or get to four (scored) and keep them to three. One or the other. It’s been hard for us to get to that four number. We have been to three somewhat consistently, but we’re giving up close to 3.4 (goals per game) and that number is too high. That bodes on our goaltending, but it bodes more on our defensive play in front of him.”

(Playing Wisconsin, a team Irish split with to start Big Ten season in November) “They’ve had their frustrations as well. They started slow, but they then picked it up until recently when they’ve run into what we have – good goaltending. They haven’t been able to produce offensively like they were a month ago. In some ways there are some similarities to how both teams are playing right now. They had a good stretch in the middle, while we’ve been fairly inconsistent throughout the year. They’ve got one of the best players in the country (Quinn Finley) on the first line, they’ve got a pretty good back-end defensive corps, they’ve got some offensive depth on the first couple of lines, and they’ve got goaltending which has been good for them at times.”

(The play of Blake Biondi) “We brought Blake in (from Minnesota Duluth) because first of all he’s a quality young man. He’s an older player who gives us a little maturity up front and he’s always had a track record as a guy who can score. He’s still getting his confidence back from those last couple of years coming off injuries. He’s done a good job for us – he’s given us some good offensive contributions. I’m sure he’d like it to be more. … I think his overall game has gotten better, which will help him as far as his future goes.”

(The play of Cole Knuble) “He battled injuries for the first three months of the year. That injury situation cleared up early in the second half, and now he’s fully recovered which allows him to use his skating and his speed. He’s always been a deceptive player, a smart player. But his speed and his skating ability makes him more of a complete player. He’s always able to break teams down as far as his offensive skills. With the injuries he had, he was kind of held back from that. He’s gotten more comfortable, and it’s allowed him to be a little more explosive, given him an extra step.”

THE RIVALRY: These will be the 98th and 99th meetings in the series which began with a 3-0 Irish victory on the outdoor Badin Rink at Notre Dame on Feb. 18, 1922 during an 8-2-1 West Intercollegiate championship season. … That team was coached by Paul Castner, who was a fullback for football coach Knute Rockne and played hockey and baseball (and later was a relief pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in 1923). … Wisconsin leads the series 54-34-9 after the teams split Nov. 1-2 series at the Lefty Smith Rink in the Compton Family Ice Arena. … In games played in Madison, the Badgers are 26-14-3. … This season’s recaps:

Notre Dame 3, Wisconsin 2 (OT): In series opener, defenseman Henry Nelson gave the Irish a 1-0 lead at 7:38 of the first period. … But the Badgers took a 2-1 lead on Ryan Botterill’s power-play goal at 15:02 and Owen Lindmark’s goal at 18:16. … The Irish evened the game 31 seconds later on Brennan Ali’s goal, sending the game into the third period during which neither team scored. … In the 3-on-3, five-minute overtime, Cole Knuble scored the game-winner with assists from Justin Janicke and Paul Fischer at 2:11. … The Badgers outshot the Irish 44-24 as Owen Say made 42 saves, including 19 in the second period, 13 more in the third and two in the overtime, to outshine Wisconsin goalie Tommy Scarfone, who had 21 saves.

Wisconsin 2, Notre Dame 1: In the second game, neither team scored in the first period against goaltenders Scarfone  and Say. … In the second period, the Badgers’ Owen Lindmark scored at 5:34 but the Irish responded on defenseman Ryan Helliwell’s goal at 12:26 with assists from Cole Knuble and Axel Kumlin. … Then late in the second period with Notre Dame shorthanded on a goaltender interference call against Ali, Simon Tassy scored the eventual game-winner at 19:25. … The Badgers limited the Irish to just six shots on goal in the third period, finishing with a 35-23 shot advantage as Scarfone made 22 saves and Say 33.

LAST TIMES OUT: Both teams come into the series on multiple-game losing streaks. … The Badgers, who have struggled to surpass .500 all season but once were ranked No. 17 nationally (Jan. 27), have been swept in three consecutive series – at Minnesota Jan. 31-Feb. 1; at home to Penn State Feb. 7-8; and last weekend at Ohio State. … The Irish, who were ranked in the Top 20 earlier this season, won a non-conference home game against Lindenwood 4-2 on Jan. 25 and then had a weekend off before losing a pair of 5-1 games to visiting Ohio State Feb. 7-8 and then being swept on the road last weekend at Penn State. … Last weekend’s recaps:

Penn State 5, Notre Dame 3 (Feb. 14): The Irish were outshot 15-4 and trailed 3-0 after the Nittany Lions scored three goals in the final 3:59 of the first period. … Carter Slaggert (5:18) and Brennan Ali (8:41) pulled Irish within one goal in the second period before the Nittany Lions scored their eighth shorthanded goal of the season at 19:57. … Blake Biondi’s power play goal 53 seconds into final period again pulled Irish within one but Nittany Lions scored an empty-net goal at 18:52 for final margin. … Penn State outshot Notre Dame 37-27 as Penn State goalie Arsenii Sergeev made 24 saves, eight fewer than his Notre Dame counterpart Owen Say.

Ohio State 4, Wisconsin 1 (Feb. 14): The Badgers led 1-0 after the first period on Jack Horbach’s goal at 17:10, but the Buckeyes got two late second-period goals from Riley Thompson (15:36) and Joe Dunlap (19:28.9) and never trailed again. … Gunnarwolfe Fontaine made it 3-1 Ohio State early in the third period and Thompson added an empty-net goal at 19:50.9 to back the goaltending of Logan Terness, who had 37 saves. … The Badgers limited the Buckeyes to just 21 shots on net. … Anton Castro started in goal for Wisconsin and made 11 saves before being replaced by Tommy Scarfone who made six in 13:04 of the third period.

Penn State 3, Notre Dame 2 (Feb. 15): The Irish turned the tables in shots on goal, 38-28, but couldn’t finish against Sergeev, who made 36 saves. … Say started for the second straight night and was as stoic as Friday, finishing with 25 saves. … After the Nittany Lions took a 1-0 lead in the first period, Biondi scored his eighth power-play goal and 12^th overall goal (both team highs) at 4:33 of the second period. … The Badgers then broke the tie at 15:05 and then got the eventual game-winner at 6:37 of the third period on a power play before captain Justin Janicke scored a shorthanded goal, his second of the season and 11^th overall, at 9:06.

Ohio State 4, Wisconsin 2 (Feb. 15): The Badgers got a pair of unassisted goals early in the second period against Ohio State starting goaltender Kristoffer Eberly by Ryland Mosley (0:10) and Ryan Botterill (1:35) to offset a first-period goal by the Buckeyes’ Patrick Guzzo. … Ohio State’s Max Montes tied the game at 2-2 at 5:50 of the second period. … Then the Buckeyes scored twice in the third on goals Damien Carfagna (17:00) and David Burnside (19:49.1). … Wisconsin starting goaltender Tommy Scarfone finished with 16 saves as the Badgers once again outshot the Buckeyes 30-20.

BIG TEN STANDINGS AND SCHEDULE: (Numbers in parentheses before school are its standings in this week’s USCHO.com media poll, this week’s USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches poll and its current PairWise rating)

1. (1/1/2) Michigan State 13-4-3, 43 points (22-5-3 overall, 107 GF, 61 GA)

2t. (7/6/6) Ohio State 13-6-1, 40 points (20-8-2 overall, 101 GF, 68 GA)

2t. (5/4/3) Minnesota 12-5-3, 40 points (21-7-4 overall, 125 GF, 76 GA)

4. (10/11/12) Michigan 11-9-2, 32 points (17-12-3 overall, 100 GF, 102 GA)
5. (18/17/16) Penn State 7-10-3, 26 points (16-11-3 overall, 104 GF, 91 GA)
6. (rv/rv/26) Wisconsin 6-15-1, 24 points (11-18-3 overall, 92 GF, 94 GA)
7. (nr/nr/45) Notre Dame 3-16-1, 11 points (9-20-1 overall, 80 GF, 101 GA)

Friday’s games: Notre Dame at Wisconsin, 8:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network); Penn State at Michigan State, 6 p.m. (Big Ten Network); Ohio State at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (B1G+)

Saturday’s games: Notre Dame at Wisconsin, 8:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network); Penn State at Michigan State, 6 p.m. (Big Ten Network); Ohio State at Minnesota, 6 p.m. (B1G+)

Thursday, Feb. 27: Michigan at Ohio State, 8 p.m. (Big Ten Network).

Friday, Feb. 28: Michigan State at Notre Dame, 7:05 p.m. (Peacock); Michigan at Ohio State, 6 p.m. (Big Ten Network); Minnesota at Penn State, 8:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network).

Saturday, March 1: Michigan State at Notre Dame, 6:05 p.m. (Peacock); Minnesota at Penn State, 8 p.m. (Big Ten Network).

Sunday, March 2: U.S. Under-18 Team at Wisconsin, 7 p.m. (exhibition)

Friday-Sunday, March 7-9: Big Ten Tournament best-of-three quarterfinal series (Seventh place at Second place; Sixth place at Third place; Fifth place at Fourth place)

Saturday, March 15: Big Ten Tournament semifinals (single elimination)

Saturday, March 22: Big Ten Tournament championship (single elimination)

NCAA TOURNAMENT

Sunday, March 23: Bracket announcement

Thursday-Sunday, March 27-30: Northeast Regional at Manchester, N.H. (SNHU Arena); East Regional at Allentown, Pa. (PPL Center); Midwest Regional at Toledo, Ohio (Huntington Center); West Regional at Fargo, N.D. (Scheel Arena)

Thursday, April 10: NCAA Frozen Four semifinals at St. Louis (Enterprise Center)

Saturday, April 12: NCAA Frozen Four championship at St. Louis (Enterprise Center)

SCHEDULES FOR USCHO.com MEDIA POLL TEAMS AND ALL OTHERS

1. Michigan State (Big Ten) (22-5-3) vs. No. 18 Penn State Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 18 Penn State; Friday, Feb. 28 at Notre Dame; Saturday, March 1 at Notre Dame.
2. Boston College(Hockey East) (22-6-1) at Vermont Friday. Next: Saturday at Vermont; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. New Hampshire; Saturday, March 1 at New Hampshire; Saturday, March 9 vs. Merrimack.
3. Western Michigan(NCHC) (22-5-1) at No. 12 Arizona State Friday. Next: Saturday at No. 12 Arizona State; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. No. 17 North Dakota; Saturday, March 1 vs. No. 17 North Dakota; Friday, March 7 at Miami; Saturday,, March 8 at Miami.
4. Maine(Hockey East) (19-5-5) at No. 11 Connecticut Friday. Next: Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Vermont; Saturday, March 1 vs. Vermont; Friday, March 7 at No. 16 Massachusetts; Saturday, March 8 at No. 16 Massachusetts.
5. Minnesota(Big Ten) (21-7-4) vs. No. 7 Ohio State Friday. Next; Saturday vs. No. 7 Ohio State; Friday, Feb. 28 at No. 18 Penn State; Saturday, March 1 at No. 18 Penn State.
6. Denver (NCHC) (21-8-1) at Miami Friday. Next: Saturday at Miami; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. St. Cloud State; Saturday, March 1 vs. St. Cloud State; Friday, March 7 vs. No. 20 Colorado College; Saturday, March 8 at No. 20 Colorado College.
7. Ohio State (Big Ten) (20-8-2) at No. 5 Minnesota Friday. Next: Saturday at No. 5 Minnesota; Thursday, Feb. 27 vs. No. 10 Michigan; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. No. 10 Michigan.
8. Providence (Hockey East) (17-8-5) is idle Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 13 UMass Lowell; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Merrimack; Saturday, March 1 at Merrimack; Thursday, March 6 at No. 9 Boston University; Saturday, March 8 at Northeastern.
9. Boston University(Hockey East) (17-11-1) vs. Northeastern Friday. Next: Saturday at Northeastern; Tuesday, Feb. 25 at No. 11 Connecticut; Thursday, March 6 vs. No. 8 Providence; Saturday, March 8 at Vermont.
10. Michigan (Big Ten) (17-12-3) is idle this weekend. Next: Thursday, Feb 27 at No. 7 Ohio State  Friday, Feb. 28 at No. 7 Ohio State.
11. Connecticut (Hockey East) (16-10-3) vs. No. 4 Maine Friday. Next: Tuesday, Feb. 25 vs. No. 9 Boston University; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Northeastern; Saturday, March 1 at Northeastern; Thursday, March 6 at Vermont.
12. Arizona State (NCHC) (17-11-2) vs. No. 3 Western Michigan Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 3 Western Michigan; Friday, Feb. 28 at Omaha; Saturday, March 1 at Omaha.
13. UMass Lowell(Hockey East) (15-11-3) is idle Friday. Next: Saturday at No. 8 Providence; Thursday, Feb. 27 at No. 16 Massachusetts; Saturday, March 1 vs. No. 16 Massachusetts; Friday, March 7 vs. New Hampshire; Saturday, March 8 at New Hampshire.
14. Quinnipiac (ECAC) (19-9-2) vs. Yale Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Brown; Friday, Feb. 28 at No. 19 Clarkson; Saturday, March 1 at St. Lawrence.
15. Minnesota State(CCHA) (20-8-2) at Lake Superior State Friday. Next: Saturday at Lake Superior State; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Bemidji State; Saturday, March 1 vs. Bemidji State.
16. Massachusetts(Hockey East) (16-12-2) at New Hampshire Friday. Next: Saturday vs. New Hampshire; Thursday, Feb. 27 vs. No. 13 UMass Lowell; Saturday, March 1 at No. 13 UMass Lowell; Friday, March 7 vs. No. 4 Maine; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 4 Maine.
17. North Dakota (NCHC) (15-12-2) vs. Minnesota Duluth Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Minnesota Duluth; Friday, Feb. 28 at No. 3 Western Michigan; Saturday, March 1 at No. 3 Western Michigan; Friday, March 7 vs. Omaha; Saturday, March 8 vs. Omaha.
18. Penn State (Big Ten) (16-11-3) at No. 1 Michigan State Friday. Next: Saturday at No. 1 Michigan State; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. No. 5 Minnesota; Saturday, March 1 vs. No. 5 Minnesota.
19. Clarkson(ECAC) (18-9-3) at Cornell Friday. Next: Saturday at Colgate; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. No. 14 Quinnipiac; Saturday, March 1 vs. Princeton.
20. Colorado College (NCHC) (16-13-1) at St. Cloud State Friday. Next: Saturday at St. Cloud State; Friday, March 7 at No. 6 Denver; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 6 Denver.

Also receiving votes

Augustana (CCHA) (17-9-4) vs. Alaska Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Alaska.

Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey) (19-11-2) vs. Bentley Thursday. Next: Monday, Feb. 24 vs. American International.

Omaha (NCHC) (16-13-1) is idle this week. Next: Friday, Feb. 28 vs. No. 12 Arizona State; Saturday, March 1 vs. No. 12 Arizona State; Friday, March 7 at No. 17 North Dakota; Saturday, March 8 at No. 17 North Dakota.

Cornell (ECAC) (11-8-6) vs. No. 19 Clarkson Friday. Next: Saturday vs. St. Lawrence; Friday, Feb. 28 at Union; Saturday, March 1 at Rensselaer.

Wisconsin (Big Ten) (11-18-3) vs. Notre Dame Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Notre Dame; Sunday, March 2 vs. U.S. Under-18 Team (exhibition).

New Hampshire (Hockey East) (11-13-4) vs. No. 16 Massachusetts Friday. Next: Saturday at No. 16 Massachusetts; Friday, Feb. 28 at No. 2 Boston College; Saturday, March 1 vs. No. 2 Boston College; Friday, March 7 at No. 13 UMass Lowell; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 13 UMass Lowell.

Sacred Heart (Atlantic Hockey) (18-10-5) is idle Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Bentley. Earlier this week: Won 3-2 at American International Tuesday.

Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) (17-13-2) at Holy Cross Thursday. Next: Saturday at Sacred Heart.

Merrimack (Hockey East) (13-16-1) is idle this week. Next: Friday, Feb. 28 at No. 8 Providence; Saturday, March 1 vs. No. 8 Providence; Thursday, March 6 vs. Northeastern; Saturday, March 8 at No. 2 Boston College.

Union (ECAC) (17-10-3) at Harvard Friday. Next: Saturday at Dartmouth; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Cornell; Saturday, March 1 vs. Colgate.

Bowling Green (CCHA) (15-10-4) at Bemidji State Friday. Next: Saturday at Bemidji State; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Lake Superior State; Saturday, March 1 vs. Lake Superior State.

Vermont (Hockey East) (11-14-3) vs. No. 2 Boston College Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 2 Boston College; Friday, Feb. 28 at No. 4 Maine; Saturday, March 1 at No. 4 Maine; Thursday, March 6 vs. No. 11 Connecticut; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 9 Boston University.

Others

Notre Dame (Big Ten) (9-20-1) at Wisconsin Friday. Next: Saturday at Wisconsin; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. No. 1 Michigan State; Saturday, March 1 vs. No. 1 Michigan State.

Northeastern (Hockey East) (10-15-3) at No. 9 Boston University Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 9 Boston University; Friday, Feb. 28 at No. 11 Connecticut; Saturday, March 1 vs. No. 11 Connecticut; Thursday, March 6 at Merrimack; Saturday vs. No. 8 Providence.

St. Cloud State (NCHC) (11-16-1) vs. No. 20 Colorado College Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 20 Colorado College; Friday, Feb. 28 at No. 6 Denver; Saturday, March 1 at No. 6 Denver; Friday, March 7 vs. Minnesota Duluth; Saturday, March 8 vs. Minnesota Duluth.

Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) (11-15-2) at No. 17 North Dakota Friday. Next: Saturday at No. 17 North Dakota; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Miami; Saturday, March 1 vs. Miami; Friday, March 7 at St. Cloud State; Saturday, March 8 at St. Cloud State.

Miami (NCHC) (3-23-2) vs. No. 6 Denver Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 6 Denver; Friday, Feb. 28 at Minnesota Duluth; Saturday, March 1 at Minnesota Duluth; Friday, March 7 vs. No. 3 Western Michigan; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 3 Western Michigan.

Lake Superior State (CCHA) (11-17-2) vs. No. 15 Minnesota State Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 15 Minnesota State; Friday, Feb. 28 at Bowling Green; Saturday, March 1 at Bowling Green.

Bemidji State (CCHA) (11-15-4) vs. Bowling Green Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Bowling Green; Friday, Feb. 28 at No. 15 Minnesota State; Saturday, March 1 at No. 15 Minnesota State.

Michigan Tech (CCHA) (15-12-3) vs. Ferris State Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Ferris State; Friday, Feb. 28 at St. Thomas; Saturday, March 1 at St. Thomas.

Ferris State (CCHA) (11-17-2) at Michigan Tech Friday. Next: Saturday at Michigan Tech; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Northern Michigan; Saturday, March 1 vs. Northern Michigan.

St. Thomas (CCHA) (12-13-5) at Northern Michigan Friday. Next: Saturday at Northern Michigan; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Michigan Tech; Saturday, March 1 vs. Michigan Tech.

Northern Michigan (CCHA) (5-24-1) vs. St. Thomas Friday. Next: Saturday vs. St. Thomas; Friday, Feb. 28 at Ferris State; Saturday, March 1 at Ferris State.

Colgate (ECAC) (15-12-3) vs. St. Lawrence Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 19 Clarkson; Friday, Feb. 28 at Rensselaer; Saturday, March 1 at Union.

St. Lawrence (ECAC) (9-19-2) at Colgate Friday. Next: Saturday at Cornell; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Princeton; Saturday, March 1 vs. No. 14 Quinnipiac.

Harvard (ECAC) (9-14-2) vs. Union Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Rensselaer; Friday, Feb. 28 at Yale; Saturday, March 1 at Brown.

Yale (ECAC) (6-17-2) at No. 14 Quinnipiac Friday. Next: Saturday at Princeton; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Harvard; Saturday, March 1 vs. Dartmouth.

Dartmouth (ECAC) (12-11-2) vs. Rensselaer Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Union; Friday, Feb. 28 at Brown; Saturday, March 1 at Yale.

Rensselaer (ECAC) (11-17-2) at Dartmouth Friday. Next: Saturday at Harvard; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Colgate; Saturday, March 1 vs. Cornell.

Brown (ECAC) (12-11-2) at Princeton Friday. Next: Saturday at No. 14 Quinnipiac; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Dartmouth; Saturday, March 1 vs. Harvard.

Princeton (ECAC) (10-13-2) vs. Brown Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Yale; Friday, Feb. 28 at St. Lawrence; Saturday, March 1 at No. 19 Clarkson.

Niagara (Atlantic Hockey) (16-13-3) at Canisius Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Canisius.

Canisius (Atlantic Hockey) (10-20-2) vs. Niagara Friday. Next: Saturday at Niagara.

Robert Morris (Atlantic Hockey) (10-18-4) vs. Air Force Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Air Force.

Air Force (Atlantic Hockey) (13-19-2) at Robert Morris Friday. Next: Saturday at Robert Morris.

Army (Atlantic Hockey) (13-16-2) at American International Friday. Next: Saturday vs. American International.

American International (Atlantic Hockey) (10-19-2) vs. Army Friday. Next: Saturday at Army; Monday, Feb. 24 at Holy Cross. Earlier this week: Lost 3-2 to Sacred Heart Tuesday.

RIT (Atlantic Hockey) (8-22-2) vs. Mercyhurst Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Mercyhurst.

Mercyhurst (Atlantic Hockey) (4-24-4) at RIT Friday. Next: Saturday at RIT.

Alaska (Independent) (10-12-6) at Augustana Friday. Next: Saturday at Augustana; Friday, Feb. 28 at Long Island; Saturday, March 1 at Long Island.

Long Island (Independent) (17-11-2) at Stonehill Friday. Next: Saturday at Stonehill; Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Alaska; Saturday, March 1 vs. Alaska.

Stonehill (Independent) (11-21-0) vs. Long Island Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Long Island.

Lindenwood (Independent) (7-21-2) at Alaska Anchorage Friday. Next: Saturday at Alaska Anchorage.

Alaska Anchorage (Independent) (5-22-5) vs. Lindenwood Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Lindenwood.