After defeating then-No. 1 Michigan in Detroit and hoisting the Iron D Trophy, No. 1 Michigan State hockey took a break from Big Ten competition during its final bye week of the season.

Head coach Adam Nightingale said the bye week came at a good time, as the team has spent all but one week on the road since resuming conference play at the start of January. 

The Spartans are back this week and will host Notre Dame at Munn Ice Arena for a two-game series. The opening game is set for Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. The series finale is set for Friday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. 

The Spartans enter the series 13-5-0 in Big Ten action (22-6-0 overall). MSU holds 39 points in the conference, second to No. 2 Michigan due to the Spartans’ bye week. The team did not compete and had no opportunity to earn points. 

MSU must continue to win to contend for the Big Ten regular-season title, which it has won the past two years. Junior defenseman and alternate captain Patrick Geary said the title has not been a major topic of conversation.

“We don't talk about it much, we don't have a standings board,” Nightingale said. “We don't bring it up to our guys. We're focused on one day at a time. I think that those things take care of themselves. We have been really consistent the last couple of years here, and I feel like this year we have as well.”

In contrast, the Fighting Irish are at the bottom of the conference with a record of 2-15-1 (6-20-4 overall) and nine points. However, they won their second conference game just last weekend against Minnesota and have forced a few overtimes against Big Ten opponents. 

“I don't think we're taking it as a trap game (easy win) at all,” Geary said. “Honestly, we think they're a top-15 team in the country. I know the standings and whatever, their outcome hasn't been great all year, but they have a lot of skill. They're great off the rush, so we got to play our game. It's a great weekend, and they're a tough team for sure.”

Last meeting 

The teams met earlier this season on Nov. 14 and 15. The Spartans took the first game in a 4-1 victory, starting strong and finishing with poise. Senior goaltender Dolan Gilbert made his career debut for the Spartans, playing 54 seconds in the arena where he grew up. Gilbert’s father was an equipment manager at Notre Dame during his childhood.