Two Big Ten teams will face off in this year’s Frozen Four with a spot in the title game on the line when the No. 1-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the No. 2-seeded Michigan Wolverines on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 (live streamed on WatchESPN).
Michigan vs. Notre Dame 2018 live stream: Time, TV channel, how to watch Frozen Four online
The Fighting Irish have reached their second-consecutive NCAA semifinal, but a familiar Big Ten foe stands in their way to the finals.
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Just days after Fighting Irish head coach Jeff Jackson won the coveted 2018 Spencer Penrose Award for Coach of the Year, his team will look to build on its Big Ten tournament overtime victory against Ohio State by competing in its second-consecutive Frozen Four appearance. Coming off a 27-9-2 season, Notre Dame survived two close calls in the NCAA East Regional, but was able to comeback against both Michigan Tech (4-3) and Providence College (2-1).
As the overall No. 2-seed heading into the NCAA hockey tournament, the Fighting Irish finished the year ranked atop the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll — they held the No. 1 spot for seven weeks throughout the season. The team ranks ninth nationally in scoring defense (2.16 goals against per game) and second in penalty kill (88.9). Additionally, in goal, sophomore Cale Morris leads the NCAA in save percentage (.945) and victories (26), on his way to earning Big Ten Player of the Year and Goaltender of the Year honors.
Notre Dame may be good at protecting the net, but Michigan will certainly keep Morris busy on Thursday. The Wolverines rank sixth nationally in goals made per game (3.35), fourth in third-period goals (52), and 10th in shots on goal per game (33.08). Additionally, 10 players have recorded career-high seasons in points, including Cooper Marody, who ranks sixth in the country with 50 points this season.
This Frozen Four matchup marks the fifth time just this season these two teams have met. They split the first four meetings, with the Wolverines getting the most recent two wins. Michigan doesn’t just have the momentum heading into this game, they lead the overall series 77-56-5 against the Fighting Irish.
No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Michigan
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota
- TV: ESPN2
- Online: WatchESPN
- Announcers: John Buccigross, Barry Melrose, and Quint Kessenich
- Radio: Westwood One Radio | Sirius/XM College Sports Nation (Channel 84)
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