The Notre Dame hockey team didn't have much to do to prepare for this weekend's series against Ohio State in Columbus. That is because for the second time in three weekends the Irish have a two-game series against the Buckeyes.

Unlike two weeks ago, this series will not be played in the intimate Joyce Center, but instead in Ohio State's Schottenstein Center.

While the Joyce Center holds 2,700 for hockey, the Schottenstein Center holds 17,500 fans. With Columbus getting an expansion NHL team, the crowds are finally showing up to OSU hockey games. Playing in front of a large crowd is something that excites Irish coach Dave Poulin.

"It is a different feeling going down there than in years past," said Poulin. "Before (Ohio State) play in a tiny arena that held 1,500 people. Now they play in a beautiful arena and they drew 14,000 for a game against us last year."

Notre Dame has been kept busy in the past two weeks playing Michigan on Jan. 23 along with a series against non-conference foe Yale this past weekend. This is in stark contrast to the Buckeyes, who have sat at home for the past two weeks.

They won't have to change much of their game plan. Poulin felt that they played effectively against Ohio State the last time the schools met.

"We played very well against Ohio State," said Poulin. "We didn't have many breakdowns, they just made good plays. So we don't need to go out and change much. We just need to play our game."

Notre Dame will devote a large part of its gameplan to stopping Ohio State's fabulous freshmen. Two of the top three scorers for the Buckeyes are freshmen Dave Steckel and RJ Umberger. In Notre Dame's first meeting with Ohio State on Jan. 19, the freshmen scored every goal for the Buckeyes.

Coming off a 40-save performance against Yale, sophomore Tony Zasowski will be between the pipes this weekend. Zasowski took the loss Jan. 19 and did not start the next night against the Buckeyes.

One question for the Ohio State series will be the health of Irish freshman Aaron Gill. Gill had a mishap on an icy sidewalk and injured his back. He missed this past Saturday's game against Yale, but was in the lineup for Sunday. According to Poulin, Gill will be in the lineup for tonight's game.

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