MHKY: Around the Big Ten

Story posted February 20, 2018 in CommRadio, Sports by Tom Johnston

The puck will drop one final time for the regular season in Big Ten hockey play this year. With the Big Ten hockey tournament looming in the future Notre Dame has the No. 1 overall seed and Ohio State is the definite No. 2.

Ranked No. 2 overall in the PairWise rankings are the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This season, was their first in the Big Ten and they dominated from start to finish. Last weekend, the Irish faced the Michigan Wolverines in a home- and-home series. However, they lost both games 4-2 and 1-0, respectively. The Irish and Wolverines split the season series two games apiece.

This weekend, the Irish welcome the last-place Michigan State Spartans to south bend. The Irish's overall record is 22-8-2 and 16-5-1 in Big Ten play. Both teams played earlier in the season where the Irish won both games 3-1 and 2-0 respectively.

No. 6 Ohio State stands alone in second in the standings and has the second seed locked up in the tournament. Last weekend, they visited the Minnesota Golden Gophers where they lost the first game 2-1 and tied the second game 1-1 but won via shootout. The Buckeyes took the season series 3-1.

This weekend, Ohio State welcomes the Wisconsin Badgers to Columbus for the final time. The Buckeyes overall record is 19-8-5 and 12-8-2 in Big Ten play. Both teams met earlier in the season where teams split both games 3-2, respectively.

No. 11 Michigan sits third in the conference standings. Last weekend, the Wolverines swept the Fighting Irish 4-2 and 1-0 respectively. That was the Irish first-ever time being swept in Big Ten play.

This weekend, they face Arizona State in a non-conference matchup in Ann Arbor. Michigan’s overall record is 16-13-3 and 11-10-3 in Big Ten play.

No. 8 Minnesota stands in the middle of the pack. Last weekend, they faced Ohio State and took the first game 2-1 and tied the latter game 1-1 respectively.

This weekend, the Golden Gophers travel to Penn State to face the Nittany Lions. Minnesota has an overall record of 19-13-2 and 10-10-2 in Big Ten play. Both teams met earlier in the season where the Gophers lost the first game 3-1 but won the latter 6-3 respectively.

No. 23 Wisconsin is coming off a bye week. This weekend, they travel to Columbus the to take on the Buckeyes of Ohio State. The Badgers overall record is 14-15-3-0 and 8-11-2-1 in Big Ten play.

No. 17 Penn State sits near the bottom of the pack. Last weekend, they faced the Spartans and split the series losing 4-2 and winning the latter 3-2 respectively.  This weekend, they welcome Minnesota. Penn State is 14-13-5 and 7-10-5 in Big Ten play.

Michigan State sits last in the conference standings. Last weekend, they faced Penn State. This weekend, they go on the road to Notre Dame. The Spartans are 11-18-2 and 5-14-2 in Big Ten.

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