With the Big Ten standings tightening and every point starting to feel like gold, No. 8 Penn State is gearing up for a pivotal home series this weekend against Notre Dame at Pegula Ice Arena. The Nittany Lions are wrapping up a five-game homestand, and this two-game set could go a long way in shaping the conference race as we head into the back half of the season.
A Familiar Foe Comes to Hockey Valley
This weekend marks the 40th and 41st all-time meetings between Penn State and Notre Dame, and while the Irish still hold the historical edge at 21-12-6, the recent trend has tilted in the Nittany Lions’ favor. Penn State has taken the last three matchups and grabbed 10 out of a possible 12 points against Notre Dame last season.
Since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, it’s been a tight battle between the two programs, with Penn State holding a narrow 5-4-3 edge. And when the series shifts to Pegula Ice Arena, the Lions have been tough to beat-unbeaten in their last five home games against the Irish (3-0-2) and 6-8-4 all-time in Hockey Valley.
Notre Dame Searching for Answers
For Notre Dame, it’s been a season of growing pains under new head coach Brock Sheahan, who took over following the retirement of longtime leader Jeff Jackson. The Irish are coming in on a seven-game skid and have dropped 13 of their last 14 overall. At 4-15-1 on the year and still looking for their first Big Ten win (0-10-0), Notre Dame is trying to find something-anything-to spark a turnaround.
The numbers tell the story. The Irish have been outscored 41-15 during their current slide and have given up four or more goals in eight straight games.
Offensively, they’ve leaned on defenseman Paul Fischer for production-he leads the team with 16 points-but he’ll be out this weekend due to suspension. Evan Werner has been their top goal-scorer with eight, while Danny Nelson and Sutter Muzzatti have chipped in with seven apiece.
In net, sophomore Nicholas Kempf has started 18 of 20 games, but it’s been a tough stretch. He’s carrying a 3.80 goals-against average and an .887 save percentage.
As a team, Notre Dame ranks last in the Big Ten in both scoring offense (2.55 goals per game) and team defense (4.25 goals allowed per game). The one bright spot?
Their power play, which has quietly been effective, converting at a 28.3% clip.
Nittany Lions Hitting Their Stride
On the other side, Penn State is playing some of its best hockey of the season. The Nittany Lions are getting contributions from all over the lineup, and the blend of seasoned veterans and impact freshmen has made them a dangerous group.
Junior forward Aiden Fink continues to cement his legacy in Happy Valley. Last weekend, he became just the ninth player in program history to reach 100 career points-and he did it in just 87 games, the fastest pace ever for a Penn State player.
That breaks the previous mark of 102 games set by Alex Limoges back in 2021. After missing seven games earlier this season with an upper-body injury, Fink has returned with purpose, putting up five points in his last four games.
With 14 points in 13 games this season, he’s now just two points away from cracking the top eight on Penn State’s all-time scoring list.
Between the pipes, freshman Josh Fleming is quickly becoming a name to know across college hockey. The rookie netminder was just named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List, and for good reason.
He posted his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over Minnesota-the first time the Nittany Lions have ever blanked the Gophers. Fleming’s .938 save percentage is tied for the best in the nation, and his 1.91 goals-against average ranks second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally.
That’s elite company for any goaltender, let alone a freshman.
Penn State’s freshman class is making waves beyond the crease, too. Defenseman Jackson Smith has found the back of the net five times this season, tying him for the Big Ten lead among blueliners.
Forward Luke Misa is riding a three-game point streak, showing poise and confidence as he settles into his role. And junior Matt DiMarsico is quietly putting together a strong campaign of his own, with a three-game point streak and a spot among the conference’s top scorers in both goals and total points.
The Bottom Line
This weekend’s series is more than just another pair of games-it’s a chance for Penn State to solidify its standing in the Big Ten and keep building momentum as the postseason picture starts to take shape. For Notre Dame, it’s an opportunity to stop the bleeding and try to reset in what’s been a challenging year.
With a surging Nittany Lions squad and a desperate Irish team looking to play spoiler, expect high energy, physical play, and a playoff-like atmosphere in Pegula. Conference points are on the line, and in January, that means everything.