6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Michigan • No TV Friday, BTN Saturday; 1130-AM/103.5-FM

Gophers try to win fifth in row

Preview: The Gophers (7-3, 3-1 Big Ten), ranked No. 4 in the USCHO.com poll, have won four consecutive games and six of their past seven. The Wolverines (5-3, 1-1 Big Ten), in their first season under Mel Pearson, are coming off a series split with Ferris State at home last weekend. Michigan won the opener 7-2. Ferris State won the next day 3-2 in overtime. The Gophers are 11-7 — including 3-1 last season — against Michigan since the start of the Big Ten Conference in 2013-14.

Players to watch: Gophers goalie Eric Schierhorn, who has started 83 consecutive games, leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth nationally in both save percentage (.933) and goals-against-average (1.80). He is 5-4 in his career against the Wolverines. The Gophers' 4-0 victory over Michigan State last Saturday was Schierhorn's 50th career victory and 10th career shutout. Sophomore Rem Pitlick leads the Gophers in scoring (four goals, six assists). Michigan junior Cooper Marody is tied for fifth nationally in assists (9) and tied for 11th in points (12).

Numbers: Michigan's average age of 20 years, 324 days is the third youngest in NCAA Division I men's hockey, ranking only behind Boston College (20 years, 125 days) and Boston University (20 years, 127 days). Pearson, who played high school hockey at Edina East, replaced Red Berenson, who retired after 33 seasons as the Wolverines coach. … Michigan blocks 17.9 shots per game, which is second nationally.

JOEL RIPPEL