Game-day information: Game 19 vs. No. 3/2 Quinnipiac
When	Saturday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.
Where	Boston, Mass.  |  Matthews Arena  |  Directions
Broadcast and stats	Live Stats  |  Video  |  Audio  |  Tickets
Notes and yearbook	Game Notes  |  2015-16 Yearbook
Promotions	Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night
Social media	@GoNUmhockey  facebook.com/GoNUmhockey instagram.com/GoNUathletics  Use #GoNU

BOSTON -- The Northeastern men's ice hockey team kicks off the second half of the season on Saturday night when the Huskies host No. 3/2 Quinnpiac at Matthews Arena in its first game of 2016.
 
The all-time series with the Bobcats
The Huskies and Bobcats will be meeting for the fourth time in team history on Saturday, and third time in the last two seasons. Quinnipiac owns a 2-1-0 edge in the all-time series after a pair of one-goal victories in Hamden, Conn. last season.
 
The teams will be meeting at Matthews Arena for the first time since 2002 on Saturday, when NU picked up a 2-1 victory thanks to a goal from Donny Grover with 6:11 remaining in regulation.
 
Scouting Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac will play its third game in five days on Saturday night following a home-and-home set with Princeton on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Bobcats enter the weekend as one of the hottest teams in college hockey with a 17-1-2 mark overall, 8-0-2 record in the ECAC and own the top spot in the PairWise Rankings.
 
After starting the year 15-0-2, the longest unbeaten streak to start a season since Colorado College in 1995-96, the Bobcats were downed for the first time by Boston University on Dec. 12 heading into the holiday break.
 
QU has gotten it done at both ends of the ice, but most impressive may be the team's work in the defensive zone. Senior Michael Garteig is tied with Boston College's Thatcher Demko with six shutouts this season, and QU has shutout its opponent in four of its last six games. They've allowed an NCAA-low 1.40 goals per game this season and have outscored their opponents by 2.30 goals per game, the highest margin in the nation.
 
Quinnipiac has received production from its entire lineup throughout the season, with 10 players already with double-digit point totals on the year. The Bobcats are led by Hobey Baker hopeful Sam Anas, who has 11 goals and 11 assists on the year. He's joined by classmate Tim Clifton, who has a team-high 12 goals to go along with eight assists.
 
That was a close one
The Huskies have found themselves in several tight games so far this season, including nine one-goal games. That's the most in Hockey East and tied for the second most in the nation. Four of NU's last five games have been decided by one goal or less. NU has played in at least 10 one-goal games in each of the last two seasons.
 
Stiff scheduling
Northeastern will be playing a ranked team for the 13th time this season on Saturday night, and many of those games have come at Matthews Arena. This will mark the third time in team history that NU has hosted the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the USCHO.com poll at some point during the year. NU has already hosted No. 1 Providence and No. 2 Boston College this season. It also happened in 2012-13 and 1999-00.
 
Grizzled veterans
For the second straight game, Northeastern will battle one of the most experienced teams in the country. The Huskies are tied with both Michigan State and Quinnipiac for the most juniors and seniors on college hockey rosters this season.
 
Recapping the Dec. 19 win vs. Michigan State
Northeastern went into the holiday break on a high note on Dec. 19 with a 2-1 win against Michigan State in the final game of the Northeastern Winter Showdown at Matthews Arena.
 
Saturday's contest marked the conclusion of the Northeastern Winter Showdown, a women's basketball, men's basketball and men's ice hockey tripleheader against the Spartans.
 
Freshman Ryan Ruck backstopped the Huskies with 26 saves, while Mike McMurtry and Zach Aston-Reese both scored for Northeastern. Thomas Ebbing scored the lone goal for the Spartans, who received 29 stops from Jake Hildebrand.
 
The Huskies scored in each of the first two periods to take a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes of play before Michigan State cut the deficit to one with 7:07 left in the third period. NU was 1-of-5 on the man advantage while holding the Spartans to an 0-of-3 showing.
 
Ruck picks up Hockey East weekly honors
After backstopping Northeastern to a 2-1 win against Michigan State, freshman goaltender Ryan Ruck was named the Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week on Monday, Dec. 21.
 
Ruck (Coto de Caza, Calif.) stopped 26 Spartan shots on Saturday night to pick up his first collegiate victory. Fourteen of those saves came in the first period alone, while Ruck also made 11 saves when the Huskies were shorthanded. Through the first half of the season, Ruck has a 2.89 goals against average, .894 save percentage and 321 saves in 14 games of action.
 
The road ahead
Northeastern will head back on the road next weekend when it travels to Canton, New York for a two-game set at St. Lawrence's Appleton Arena. NU is 16-14-3 all-time against the Saints.