Notre Dame hockey set for series at Ohio State

WHO: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-3-1, 0-0-0 Big Ten) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1-2, 1-1-0 Big Ten)

WHEN: Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.

WHERE: Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio.

TICKETS: Available.

TV: Big Ten Network (Friday only). Radio: WZOC-FM (94.3).

POLLS: Notre Dame is 10th in both USCHO.com (writers) and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine (coaches) polls; Ohio State is 16th in both.

LAST WEEK: Notre Dame split home series with Nebraska Omaha (L, 6-4; W, 5-4) … Ohio State coming off home-and-away (5-3, 3-1) sweep of Robert Morris.

SERIES NOTESS: This is the first Big Ten Conference series for Notre Dame, which is an affiliate member for hockey. … The teams have played 73 times with Ohio State holding a 33-30 edge (there have been 10 ties). … The teams last met Nov. 29, 2014 in the consolation game of the Shillelagh Tournament at the Compton Family Ice Arena with the Buckeyes prevailing 5-1. … After posting seven assists last weekend against Omaha, senior captain/center Jake Evans now has nation-leading 12 assists and 15 points. … Irish defensemen Jordan Gross (4-7-11) and Bobby Nardella (2-8-10) are tied for fifth and 11th, respectively, on the national scoring list. … Irish coach Jeff Jackson is leaning toward sophomore Cale Morris (2.55 goals-against average; .910 saves percentage) for Friday’s start with freshman Dylan St. Cyr (3.22; .914) getting the nod Saturday depending on Morris’ play. … Injuries to forwards Pierce Crawford, Andrew Oglevie and Joe Wegwerth make them doubtful for series. … Associate head coach Paul Pooley is a 1984 graduate of Ohio State, the school’s all-time leading scorer (114-156-270) and had his uniform number (22) retired prior to Nov. 11, 2006 game won by Irish, 1-0.

QUOTING JACKSON: “Right now, the Big Ten is trending upward. I expect the Big Ten in future years to be the dominant league in the country. … There’s been a lack of consistency over the last couple of weeks. I think injuries have played into that, and I don’t usually use that as an excuse, but when you are losing top-line guys it has an impact on everything.”

NEXT SERIES: Penn State Nov. 10 (7:35 p.m.) and 11 (7:05 p.m.) on the Lefty Smith Rink at the Compton Family Ice Arena.