NO. 2 NOTRE DAME AT NO. 1 GOPHERS
When/where: 7 p.m., Mariucci Arena
TV/radio: FSN Plus; 1500-AM
Records: Fighting Irish 14-4; Gophers 13-3-3
Gophers at a glance: Idle since sweeping Air Force and then-No. 1 ranked Boston College on Dec. 30 to win the Mariucci Classic, the Gophers will play their last nonconference game of the season. They will be without C Erik Haula, the team's leading scorer, who sustained a finger injury against Boston College. RW Nate Condon is expected to replace Haula as second-line center. C Nick Bjugstad is coming off a six-point weekend and career-high four points against Boston College. He leads with 10 goals. The Gophers are 12-0-1 when LW Kyle Rau records a point. G Adam Wilcox has the seventh-best goals-against average in the nation (1.63). The Gophers are the third-best offensive team (3.63 goals a game) and fourth-best defensive team (1.84 goals against per game) in the country.
Fighting Irish at a glance: The Gophers have won seven of the past 10 meetings and hold a 22-13-3 all-time record, but Notre Dame won 4-3 at Mariucci last season. Winners of six in a row, Notre Dame has played once since Dec. 8 and not in 24 days. F T.J. Tynan was named CCHA Player of the Month and is tied for second with 15 points in 18 games. F Mario Lucia was named CCHA Rookie of the Month and has five goals and 10 points. Captain Anders Lee of Edina leads the CCHA with 11 goals. G Steve Summerhays is 12-4 with a 1.53 GAA, fifth in the country. Notre Dame is the second-best defensive team in the country (1.61 goals against per game).
MICHAEL RUSSO
