michigan hockey begins the 2026 postseason on Wednesday (March 11) with a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal at Yost Ice Arena, hosting seventh-seeded Notre Dame at 7 p. m. ET in a single-elimination format streamed on B1G+.
What happens when Michigan Hockey hosts Notre Dame under the new single-elimination format?
The quarterfinal is now one game rather than a three-game opening-round series, marking a shift in how the Big Ten Tournament advances teams through the bracket. Michigan enters the matchup as the No. 1-ranked and second-seeded team, while Notre Dame arrives as the No. 7 seed for the postseason meeting in Ann Arbor.
The game is the fifth meeting between the programs this season. Michigan went 4-0 against Notre Dame in the regular season, collecting 11 of a possible 12 points. Those results included two wins in South Bend in the fall and two wins at Yost Ice Arena in early January.
The all-time series edge remains with Michigan, which holds a 97-71-6 advantage and has won 12 of the last 13 meetings. In the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan is 3-0 against Notre Dame, including a sweep of a best-of-three quarterfinal series in 2024 and a semifinal victory in 2022. Notre Dame’s series accounting lists the rivalry dating to the 1921-22 season and notes the postseason matchup will be the 176th meeting between the programs.
What if special teams and star production decide the quarterfinal?
Michigan enters the postseason with the No. 1 power play in the country, converting 29. 8 percent of its chances (36-for-121) and not allowing a short-handed goal all season. Notre Dame’s power play ranks fifth, converting at 27. 5 percent (30-for-109). In a single-elimination game, that efficiency on special teams can carry added weight because there is no series to absorb one swing sequence.
Michigan’s individual scoring leaders going into the quarterfinal include senior T. J. Hughes, who leads the Wolverines with 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists). Michael Hage is two points behind with 33 assists and 12 goals, while Will Horcoff has a team-best 22 goals plus 13 assists for 35 points, including seven game-winning tallies. In net, Jack Ivankovic has a 2. 15 goals-against average and a. 922 save percentage with a 20-7-1 record.
There is also history of production against this specific opponent. Hughes has 18 career points against Notre Dame (seven goals, 11 assists) in 16 games. Garrett Schifsky has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 12 games, and Nick Moldenhauer has eight points (four goals, four assists) in 12 career meetings.
Notre Dame’s recent form includes a run of overtime outcomes. In its most recent outing, the Irish notched two overtime victories in Columbus, Ohio, and the program recorded three consecutive wins in extra time, including a win against then #5/5 Penn State and two overtime wins against Ohio State. In one of those games, Evan Werner scored the overtime goal and posted a four-point night (2-2-4). In the other, Paul Fischer tied the game with 0. 1 seconds left in regulation, and freshman Pano Fimis scored the overtime winner at the 3: 16 mark of three-on-three.
What happens next as the postseason picture tightens?
Michigan brings a 26-7-1 overall record into the Big Ten Tournament and currently ranks first in the NCAA Percentage Index (RPI), which is used to help determine the NCAA Tournament field. The Wolverines have remained No. 1 in the national polls for a second consecutive week after previously holding the top spot for 11 straight weeks earlier in the season.
The Wolverines also arrive with a recent tune-up after a bye week, having hosted Simon Fraser in an exhibition game at Yost Ice Arena. Hughes posted five points (two goals, three assists), Jayden Perron had a goal and three assists, and Hunter Hady, Michael Hage and Schifsky each had two points. All three Michigan goaltenders played, each taking a period.
Historically in the Big Ten Tournament seeding context, this is the fourth time Michigan has been the No. 2 seed, and it is 10-0 when holding that seed, winning the Big Ten Tournament title each time (2016, 2022, 2023). The quarterfinal against Notre Dame is the next test in that track record, now occurring under a new one-and-done structure that reduces the margin for error.
