6 p.m. Friday, Saturday at Notre Dame • TV; Radio: NBCSports Friday; No TV Saturday, 1130-AM, 103.5-FM

Gophers will be going for elusive sweep this weekend

Preview: The Gophers (7-8-4, 4-3-3 Big Ten) have only eight series left this season, and they still haven't got a weekend sweep. They'll try to achieve that goal at No. 9 Notre Dame (12-6-1, 5-4-0 Big Ten). While the Gophers faced the best offensive team in the nation in Penn State last week, Notre Dame allows an average of 2.21 goals per game, which ranks 13th in Division I. The Gophers should be prepared for a low-scoring game, as Notre Dame is happy to score once and play for the 1-0 shutout.

Turning a corner: Despite their mediocre record, the Gophers have only lost three of their past 11 games in regulation. Three other games in that stretch were ties. They beat a Penn State team, missing two of its best players to the World Juniors, playing their most complete game this past Saturday. And that has the Gophers feeling like a run is coming. "Our game's starting to come around. You're kind of noticing it the last month and a half," senior forward Tyler Sheehy said. "… Hopefully, these next few weekends we can start to string some together and get some sweeps going."

Injuries: Senior center Darian Romanko of the Gophers likely will be out because of an undisclosed injury.

MEGAN RYAN