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Dec. 4, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's hockey team will play its first Big Ten games in program history when it travels to Madison, Wis., for a two-game series against No. 17 Wisconsin Dec. 6-7. Opening faceoff Friday (Dec. 6) is set for 8 p.m. ET, while puck drop Saturday is 9 p.m. ET. Both games will broadcast live on FOX Sports Wisconsin and BTN2Go.com.
HOW TO FOLLOW
In addition to the TV broadcasts and video streams, an audio-only stream will be available on GoPSUsports.com. Fans can also listen to Penn State Hockey on the radio on the Penn State Sports Network (Friday) and WRSC 103.1 FM (Friday and Saturday).
BIG TEN OPENER
The Penn State (3-7-1, 0-0-0-0 Big Ten)-Wisconsin (4-5-1, 0-2-0-0 Big Ten) series marks the Nittany Lions' league opener, while it is the first conference home series for the Badgers.
In league action, each Big Ten team will play the five other conference schools four times during the regular season. Big Ten teams are awarded three points for a regulation or overtime victory, two points for a shootout win and one point for a shootout loss.
LAST YEAR VS. THE BADGERS
Penn State, which played as an independent in 2012-13, split its two-game series with Wisconsin, falling by a 5-0 score in the first game before defeating the then-No. 16 Badgers, 3-2, in overtime in the second game.
Forward Taylor Holstrom netted two goals, including the game-winner, in the victory, while Anchorage, Alaska, native Casey Bailey also scored. Sophomore netminder Matthew Skoff matched is then-career high with 42 saves.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
The Badgers, who opened Big Ten play at Minnesota last weekend (0-2-0), will enter the series 1-3-0 in their last four games. Among Big Ten players, forward Michael Mersch is tied for sixth in the conference in goals (6) and is tied for 13th in points (11). The Penn State series marks Wisconsin's first home series since Nov. 1-2 against Lake Superior State.
LEADING THE WAY
Forward Eric Scheid tied for first among Big Ten players last weekend with five points (2g, 3a) and three power-play points (1g, 2a). The Blaine, Minn., native has recorded six points during his three-game point-scoring streak and leads Penn State in goals (6) and points (10).
SHORTHANDED GOALS
David Glen's shorthanded marker against Union Dec. 1 gave the Nittany Lions three on the season - matching the team's 2012-13 total.
POWER-PLAY LEADER
Defenseman Luke Juha has scored four goals - all on the power play - in 2013-14. The blueliner ranks first among Big Ten defensemen in power-play goals and is tied for ninth in the country.
WISCONSIN CONNECTION
Junior forward Max Gardiner's brother, Jake, was a Badger defenseman from 2008-11. When playing with Minnesota during the 2010-11 season, Max faced off against Jake three times.
BACK OF THE NET
With seven goals against Union Nov. 30-Dec. 1, Penn State scored its most goals in a series since netting eight markers against Alabama Huntsville Feb. 8-9, 2013.
RANKED FOES
This weekend will mark the Nittany Lions' fifth and sixth straight games against a ranked opponent. Penn State is 1-7-0 all-time against ranked opponents with its lone win coming against Wisconsin last season.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this weekend's series, Penn State will have two weeks off before playing in the Three Rivers Classic at Pittsburgh's CONSOL Energy Center Dec. 27-28. The Nittany Lions will face off against Robert Morris Dec. 27 before playing either Boston College or Bowling Green Dec. 28.