SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey team opens up the final month of the regular season with Ohio State, Feb. 7-8. Friday’s contest, presented by Beacon Health System, will serve as the annual Fan Appreciation Night, followed by Saturday’s Chicago Blackhawks Night.
Puck drop Friday is set for 7:05p.m. with early arriving fans receiving first aid kits, courtesy of Beacon Health System. Students who scan in prior to 6:30p.m. are also entered for a chance to win a Playstation 5 and NHL25 game from Beacon Health System.
Saturday’s 6:05p.m. start will also feature elements of the Chicago Blackhawks in-venue experience with appearances from National Anthem singer Jim Cornelison, organist Carrie Marcotte, and in-game host Genna Rose.
SERIES OVERVIEW
Opponent: Ohio State Buckeyes | Feb. 7-8
Location: South Bend, Ind. | Compton Family Ice Arena
Schedule: 7p.m. (Fri.) | 6p.m. (Sat.)
Theme: Fan Appreciation Night (Fri.) | Chicago Blackhawks Night (Sat.)
TV: Peacock
Live Stats: FightingIrish.com
Radio: fightingirish.com/radioaffiliates/
Game Notes: Notre Dame
QUICK HITS
- The Irish close out their regular season series with the Buckeyes Friday and Saturday as they host Ohio State in their first February series of the season.
- The two teams previously met in Columbus to close out the first half of the season with the Irish dropping a heartbreaker in overtime, 2-1, to their conference foe before a 3-1 loss Saturday.
- The team’s scoring leader, Danny Nelson had both goals for the Irish earlier this season before the sophomore center departed for the World Junior Championships.
- Recording an assist on both of Nelson’s goals, Axel Kumlin posted his first point-streak with the Irish and now leads all Notre Dame defensemen in points with 16 (4-12-16).
- In game one of the series against the Buckeyes earlier this season, Nicholas Kempf backstopped his team to overtime, stopping 41 of 42 shots faced in regulation for a career-best.
- In their most recent outing, the Irish defeated Lindenwood to earn the weekend split in front of a sold out home crowd.
- Tyler Carpenter net the game-winning goal, his first tally of the season, and first since December 2023.
- With three assists on the weekend, Paul Fischer led the team in both points (3) and assists against the Lions.
- Justin Janicke and Danny Nelson both scored Saturday night in the win to boast 10 goals a piece this season, tied for the team-lead. Both forwards also notched assists in the contest for two-point nights bringing their point totals to 24 and 19, respectively.
NOTRE DAME vs. OHIO STATE
- The Irish hold the narrow edge in the all-time series vs. the Buckeyes, posting a 47-45-12 advantage in 104 meetings between the two programs.
- At Notre Dame, the Irish are 25-18-5 against the Buckeyes and swept the weekend series inside Compton Family Ice Arena a season ago.
- In their last meeting in South Bend, the team’s 2024-25 leader in points, Cole Knuble registered his first collegiate point (assist) and goal. The now-sophomore registered the primary assist on Patrick Moynihan’s eventual game-winning goal at 19:58 of the first period before sealing the deal for the Irish with an empty net goal late in the third period for his first career multi-point night. Knuble heads into the weekend with Ohio State this year riding a career-best six-game point streak featuring two goals and seven assists.
- In game one against the Buckeyes last season, Brennan Ali and Hunter Strand both posted multiple assists while Danny Nelson had an apple both nights against the foe.