Glance: Notre Dame hockey set to host Ohio State

WHO: Ohio State Buckeyes (18-6-4 overall, 11-6-1-0 Big Ten) vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (21-5-2 overall, 15-2-1-1 Big Ten).

WHERE: Lefty Smith Rink (5,022) at Compton Family Ice Arena, South Bend, Ind.

WHEN: Friday at 7:35 p.m. (NBC Sports Network/WZOC-FM 94.3) and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. (Streaming on NBC Sports App/WZOC-FM 94.3)

RANKINGS: Notre Dame is No. 1 in the USCHO.com (media) and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine (coaches’) polls. … Ohio State is No. 6 in both polls.

SERIES NOTES: Ohio State holds a 33-32 edge with 10 ties. ... The teams played Nov. 3-4 in Columbus, Ohio and Notre Dame skated to 4-1 and 3-2 victories.

ICE CHIPS: Notre Dame clinches the Big Ten regular-season title if it manages three points — a victory in either game or ties in both games with one shootout win. … The Irish won five CCHA titles, all under head coach Jeff Jackson, but never clinched one at home. … Notre Dame associate head coach Paul Pooley is the all-time leading scorer (270 points) and a former All-American at Ohio State, had his uniform No. 22 retired and is the uncle of current OSU freshman forward Austin Pooley. … Ohio State leads the nation in penalty-killing percentage at 90.4; Notre Dame is fifth at 88.0. … On the power play, Ohio State is converting at 23.5 percent (8th); Notre Dame is at 21.5 percent (17th). … Scoring defense: Notre Dame 3rd (2.00 goals per game); Ohio State 7th (2.21). … Sophomore Cale Morris has a record of 20-3-1 (.848 winning percentage, 1st), a .952 save percentage (1st), a 1.68 goals-against average (2nd) and four shutouts (6th). … Ohio State redshirt junior goalie Sean Romeo is 15-5-4 (.680, 10th), has .921 save percentage (10th), a 2.15 average (11th) and two shutouts (19th). … Sophomore forward Tanner Laczynski leads Buckeyes in scoring with 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists) ... Senior center Jake Evans paces Notre Dame in scoring with 31 points (9 goals, 22 assists), five more than junior forward Andrew Oglevie (11-15-26).

QUOTING JEFF JACKSON: (Clinching the Big Ten regular-season title at home) “It would certainly be a feather in their cap (with) what they have accomplished this year. We’ve really tried not to talk about it much; it’s very similar to the winning streak.”

(Playing Ohio State) “This will be the best team we’ve played since Denver (the Pioneers were No. 1 back in October). We’re playing a really top opponent. It’s just not about the conference standings; it’s about the national standings, too.”

(The play of Morris) “There’s probably nothing more he can do to surprise me.”

— John Fineran, Tribune Correspondent