Michigan to Host Notre Dame in Regular-Season Home Finale

Friday, February 21

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

Notre Dame

Jake Slaker (Michigan Photography)

Michigan to Host Notre Dame in Regular-Season Home Finale

2/19/2020 6:04:00 PM | Ice Hockey

By: Kristy McNeil

• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
• Watch: Mic'd Up - Jake Slaker

PROMOTIONS
• Feb. 22: Senior Day -- Michigan's seniors will be recognized after the game; Maize Out -- All Michigan fans are encouraged to show their school spirit by wearing maize and creating an electric atmosphere as the Wolverines take on the Fighting Irish! #GoBlue #WearMaize
• Full Promotions Schedule

• Social Media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

The University of Michigan will host Notre Dame in the final home series of the regular season this weekend at Yost Ice Arena. The teams will face off on Friday (Feb. 21) at 6 p.m. Saturday's (Feb. 22) game will begin at at 4 p.m. and will be Senior Night and a Maize Out as fans are encouraged to wear maize-colored clothing to show support for the Wolverines. Tickets for both games are standing-room only, and both games will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.

The Series

The last time Michigan took on Notre Dame, it had a 7-11-2 record. The series in South Bend, Indiana, turned the season around for the Wolverines, who are 8-1-1 since. In the first game of that series, Strauss Mann earned a 3-0 shutout with 32 stops, while Nick Pastujov, Nick Granowicz and Jacob Hayhurst scored. The next night after allowing a goal in the first two minutes, the Wolverines rebounded to score the games next three goals. In total, 12 players had at least one point, while Mann stopped 57 of 58 shots. Michigan leads, 81-59-5, in the all-time series against Notre Dame.

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan is third in the Big Ten standings with a 10-8-2 mark and are 15-12-3 overall. It has been a tale of two seasons as the Wolverines were 7-11-2 after December, averaging 2.25 goals per game. Since January, the team is scoring a clip of 4.20 goals per game and are 8-1-1.
• U-M boasts the seventh-best scoring defense in the nation, allowing 2.13 goals per game. The last line of defense, Strauss Mann, is fourth in the country in shutouts with four, sixth in save percentage at .935 and sixth in goals-against average at 2.00.
• Senior Jake Slaker sits atop the scoring column with 25 points on 12 goals and 13 assists. Classmate Will Lockwood has 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists). Defenseman Cam York adds 16, while senior Nick Pastujov has 15. Freshman Johnny Beecher and defenseman Nick Blankenburg follow closely behind with 14 points each.

Scouting the Irish

Notre Dame comes to Ann Arbor with a 12-12-6 overall record. With a 7-8-5 mark in the Big Ten, the Irish are in sixth place in the league standings. Last weekend, Notre Dame played to a 3-3 draw with Minnesota before falling, 2-1, to the Gophers in the second game.

Sophomore Alex Steeves and senior Cam Morrison lead the offense with 22 points apiece, while senior Mike O'Leary adds 21 points and senior Cal Burke has 20. The team averages 2.73 goals per game and allows 2.83 goals per game. Senior goaltender Cale Morris is 9-11-6 this season with a .913 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average.

Up Next

Friday, Feb. 28 -- at Minnesota (Mariucci Arena), 7:30 p.m. CST
Saturday, Feb. 29 -- at Minnesota (Mariucci Arena), 5 p.m. CST