Wolverines to Open Big Ten Play with Home Series Against Buckeyes

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan hockey team begins conference play this weekend as it hosts No. 13 Ohio State University in a two-game set at Yost Ice Arena. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m, on Friday (Oct. 20) and the game will be aired on Big Ten Network, while Saturday's game at 7 p.m. (Oct. 21) will be streamed on B1G+.

Promotions

Friday, Oct. 20 -- BLUE OUT! Help Michigan Hockey "Blue Out the Buckeyes" and wear blue to the game!
Saturday, Oct. 21 -- Military Appreciation

Notes

• Michigan holds a 92-51-15 lead in the all-time series with Ohio State, which dates back to 1964, and the Wolverines hold a 19-15-4 edge in the Big Ten era. Last season, the squads split a series at Yost before a tie and an extra point for OSU by way of the shootout at home followed by a win outdoors at FirstEngergy Stadium. The Wolverines settled the score in the semifinals of B1G Tournament, taking a 7-3 win at home to advance, and eventually win the championship.

• Michigan is ranked No. 7 in the latest USCHO poll, dropping one spot, after splitting its second-straight series, this one at UMass. Michigan took a 7-2 game on Friday (Oct. 14) and held a 2-0 lead on Saturday (Oct. 15) heading into the third period before the Minuteman tallied six third-period goals -- two on the power-play and two empty-net goals for the 6-3 decision.

• The Wolverines have learned early the importance of a full 60-minute game. A total of 11 third-period goals have been scored against Michigan in four games.

• Rutger McGroarty is the current leader in the nation in points, with nine in four games. He has two goals and seven assists and is on a 12-game point-scoring streak. Seamus Casey is tied nationally with two other defensemen for the most points, with six.

• Garrett Schifsky and Frank Nazar III each hold the team lead in goals scored with three apiece; all three of Schifsky's came last weekend at UMass.

• Jacob Truscott leads the team in blocked shots with 10 and collected his first multi-point game of the season on Saturday at UMass with two assists.

• Jake Barczewski has started in net in the last three games and is 2-1 with a 3.40 goals-against average and a .873 save percentage. Taking the third period out of the equation, his numbers improve as he has allowed just two goals in the games' first 40 minutes.

• The Michigan power-play is 7-for-22 this season, converting on 31.8 percent of its chances. The penalty kill matches at 31.7 percent, as U-M has gone 15-for-22.