• The Big Ten Hockey schedule is in full swing this weekend as teams vie to keep pace with No. 1/1 Wisconsin, which has built a six-point lead atop the conference standings. The unbeaten Badgers (7-0-1) encounter Ohio State at the Kohl Center. OSU holds a 31-16-5 advantage versus UW (since 2013-14), which includes a win in last year’s Big Ten Quarterfinals. Steve Rohlik’s squad has played the NCAA’s toughest schedule to date, taking on opponents with a combined .710 winning percentage. No. 2/2 Michigan, coming off a bye week, will host Penn State. The Wolverines play seven of their next eight games at Yost Ice Arena. No. 4/4 Michigan State travels to Notre Dame for a series starting Thursday night. The Spartans split last week against No. 13/13 Boston University while the Irish recorded a sweep of Penn State to catapult into second place in the league table. In nonconference action, rv/#19 Minnesota will host Alaska Anchorage. 

• Michigan senior Jayden Perron was named national forward of the month for October by the Hockey Commissioners Association. Perron led the nation in scoring during the first month of the season, stockpiling 16 points (10 goals, 6 assists) in eight games. He also helped Michigan to a 7-1 record and a No. 1 national ranking. Teammate Drew Schock was a runner-up for defender of the month. The Big Ten has garnered a monthly winner in seven-straight installments of the HCA Monthly Awards.

• Wisconsin’s fast start in conference action has been a team effort. Up front, forward Gavin Morrissey earned Big Ten Second Star of the Week honors Tuesday after recording five points for the second-straight weekend. The Badgers’ tri-captain has compiled 12 points (on 11 assists) in five games after going pointless in his first three games. On the blueline Luke Osburn leads conference defensemen with seven points and three power play goals in four games. The goaltending tandem of Daniel Hauser and Alexis Cournoyer has equally excelled in net. Hauser owns a 0.50 goals-against average and .974 save percentage in two starts while Cournoyer sports a 0.96 GAA and .956 save percentage after two starts. Wisconsin is a co-leader in NCAA scoring defense, allowing 0.75 goals per game.

• The turnstiles have been spinning at Big Ten arenas this fall. The latest NCAA attendance report finds five Big Ten programs listed in the top 10 for home attendance. Minnesota’s average of 9,736 is second-best nationally, aided by three crowds of 10,000-plus fans. Wisconsin ranks third (8,506) followed by Michigan State (5th-6,555), Penn State (7th-6,098) and Michigan (10th-5,687). Wisconsin’s home attendance will receive a boost with the Feb. 20 outdoor game versus Michigan at Lambeau Field.