DaytonDailyNews.com

How important is Miami's two-game series at Notre Dame this weekend?

If the RedHawks are to successfully defend their Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season title, it's vital that they win at least one game in the series which begins tonight, but even a two-game sweep wouldn't quite put them in the driver's seat. Miami (13-5-2 CCHA) stands one point behind Notre Dame (14-3-1), but the Fighting Irish have played two fewer league games than the RedHawks. If the RedHawks were to win twice, the four points would give them a three-point lead over the Irish. But Notre Dame could potentially get those four points back in its two extra games.

As a tandem, how do Nathan Davis and Ryan Jones compare among the nation's top point scorers?

The Miami junior forwards rank sixth among the nation's tandem point producers. Davis and Jones have combined for 27 goals and 45 assists for 72 total points. The nation's top 1-2 punch belongs to Michigan. T.J. Hensick and Kevin Porter of the Wolverines have teamed for 26 goals and 54 assists for 80 total points.

What kind of success has Miami had against Notre Dame in recent years?

Winning back-to-back games on the road is a tall order, but Miami has enjoyed a lot of success against Notre Dame, particularly at the Joyce Center (the site of this weekend's games), where the RedHawks are 11-6-5. Miami is 6-0-2 over its last eight games against Notre Dame and has not lost to the Fighting Irish since the 2003 CCHA Playoffs.

Is there any particular Miami player Notre Dame should beware of?

The Fighting Irish will want to keep the puck away from senior forward Marty Guerin, who had three goals and seven assists in eight games against Notre Dame. And Guerin is hot, having notched a goal or assist in nine of his last 10 games.

Just how good is Miami's penalty-killing unit?

Officially, it's the best. After working their magic against Ohio State last Friday and Sunday, the RedHawks now rank first in the nation in penalty-killing efficiency at 91.0 percent. Miami held Ohio State scoreless in all 10 of its power play opportunities last weekend. Miami finished fourth in the nation in that category last season (87.3 percent).