Celly RPI Postgame

#5/6 Irish Resume Big Ten Play at Penn State

WHO: #5/6 Notre Dame (10-4-1, 4-2-0 B1G) at #9/9 Penn State (10-4-1, 2-3-11 B1G)
WHEN: Friday, December 7 – 7:00 p.m. | Saturday, December 8 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Pegula Ice Arena 
LISTEN: Friday Radio Broadcast Saturday Radio Broadcast

THE SERIES VS. PENN STATE

  • The Irish lead the all-time series against the Nittany Lions 8-2-3.
  • Notre Dame is undefeated in its last five contests against Penn State, posting a 4-0-1 record during the 2017-18 season.
  • The two teams last met in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals when Jack Jenkins netted the game winner with 31 seconds left in regulation for a 3-2 win, propelling the Irish to the championship and sparking their “cardiac kids” run where they won five straight games by scoring the game-winner in the final minute of regulation or in overtime.
  • At Pegula Ice Arena, Notre Dame holds the narrow edge with a record of 3-1-2.
  • Last season at Penn State, the Irish went 1-0-1 including a 5-3 win (Feb. 2) and a 2-2 overtime tie (Feb. 3).
  • In their series at the Compton Family Ice Arena last season (Nov. 10-11), Notre Dame posted a 5-3 game one win and then Cale Morris turned aside all 33 shots he faced to post his first career shutout in Notre Dame’s 1-0 game two victory.
  • Notre Dame’s offensive leaders against Penn State include Dylan Malmquist (9 GP; 2-4-6), Bobby Nardella (9 GP; 1-4-5), Joe Wegwerth (8 GP; 2-3-5) and Cal Burke (7 GP; 1-3-4).
  • In his first game with the Irish, Malmquist tallied an assist on an Andy Ryan goal for his first collegiate point as the teams opened their 2015-16 seasons at the Pegula Ice Arena.
  • The following night, Malmquist recorded his first career goal in an Irish uniform, while Nardella recorded his first career point on the play with the primary assist.
  • In net, Cale Morris is 4-1-0 against Penn State with a 1.97 goals against average and a .956 save percentage.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

  • 306 – In his 14th season, head coach Jeff Jackson now has 306 career wins at Notre Dame (306-181-55). Notre Dame’s all-time wins leader is Lefty Smith (307-320-31).
  • 50 – Notre Dame is embarking upon the 50th season of varsity hockey at the University
  • 36 – Andrew Peeke enters the weekend with 36 blocked shots this season, which ranks seventh in the NCAA and fourth among Big Ten players.
  • 19 – Former Fighting Irish goaltender Cal Petersen, who led Notre Dame to the 2017 Frozen Four, made his NHL debut for Los Angeles on Nov. 13, becoming the 19th player to reach the NHL after skating for Jeff Jackson at Notre Dame.
  • 7 – With the 2018 Big Ten tournament and regular season titles, Notre Dame has now won even conference championships in program history, each under Jeff Jackson (three regular season)
  • 5 – The Fighting Irish were undefeated in five games against the Nittany Lions last season, posting a 4-0-1 record including a 3-2 Big Ten tournament semifinal win (March 10).
  • 1.67 – Notre Dame’s 1.67 goals against per game is tied with Bowling Green for the top mark in the country (both teams have yielded 25 goals against in 15 games played).
  • .952 – Since Notre Dame’s second game of the season (a 3-0 win over Providence on Oct. 13), Cale Morris has a .952 save percentage and a 1.46 GAA in 11 starts (7-4-0).

OTHER TIDBITS

  • The Irish carry a season-long, six-game win streak into the weekend.
  • Notre Dame’s six-game winning streak is tied with Quinnipiac for he third longest active winning streak in the country.
  • Notre Dame has also won seven of their last eight games.
  • Since starting 3-3-1, Notre Dame is 7-1-0 on the season (last season the Irish also started 3-3-1 before putting together a program record 16-game winning streak).
  • Clash of NCAA leaders: The Fighting Irish are tied for first in the country with a 1.67 goals against per game average, while Penn State leads the country with a 5.13 goals per game average.
  • Cal Burke (3-1-4), Colin Theisen (2-2-4) and Dylan Malmquist (2-2-4) each have four game point streaks.
  • Burke has seven points in the last six games (4-3-7), while Theisen’s four-game point streak is a career long mark.
  • Cam Morrison has a three-game point streak (2-2-4).
  • Mike O’Leary has a two-game point streak (0-2-2).
  • Notre Dame is 3-4-0 on the season against ranked teams.
  • This weekend’s series will mark the sixth and seventh games in which the Irish and their opponent are both ranked inside the top-10 at the time of puck drop (ND 2-3-0 heading into the weekend in those games).