Around the Big Ten (Hockey): Jan. 18
A lot of great matchups happened over the weekend, and there will only be more intriguing Big Ten games down the stretch. Let’s review and preview the action around the conference.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers tied Notre Dame in game one of their series over the weekend 2-2. They rebounded and got the win in game two with a 3-0 shutout to improve their conference record to 11-2-1.
Minnesota is in first place in both the Big Ten and the PairWise, deservedly so. The team doesn’t show a lot of weaknesses and with Logan Cooley at the helm, the Golden Gophers aren’t likely to slow down anytime soon.
The Michigan Wolverines are next on the slate for Minnesota, who haven’t been very good against the conference this year with a 5-7 record against the Big Ten. A blowout 7-2 loss in game one against a hot Ohio State team stung, but they put it in the rearview mirror and won game two 4-2.
Even though the Wolverines aren't performing as well as they want to, Michigan still sits sixth in the PairWise even though they are towards the bottom of the Big Ten.
Speaking of the Buckeyes, they’ve won six of their last seven games. That hot streak has put them in a tie for second place in the conference with Penn State and Michigan State.
Goaltender Jakub Dobes has been a brick wall lately for Ohio State. He’s putting up a .939 save percentage in his last five games.
They have Wisconsin coming up this weekend who haven’t been competitive this season, 2-10 against the Big Ten isn’t appealing. The Badgers lost 6-1 in their most recent matchup to the USA Under-18 team.
Penn State faced off against Michigan State and blew a multiple-goal lead in both games. The Nittany Lions lost 3-2 in overtime and game one and were given a 2-2 tie while losing in a shootout.
Penn State now faces Notre Dame in a very anticipated weekend of hockey. The annual “Wear White” game is happening at the Pegula Ice Arena in State College. If the Nittany Lions want to get back on track and prove that it was just one bad series, now is the time to show it in front of what should be an electric crowd.
Michigan State is now in a bye week. The three-team tie for second place in the conference will be very important going down the stretch.
Notre Dame will have a tough test going into Penn State, and if the Fighting Irish want to improve their seeding and make the Big Ten even more competitive, getting points out of this upcoming series needs to be emphasized.
Anthony Desher is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.
