SCHENECTADY, NY - No. 18 Union men's hockey (13-8-4, 6-4-3 ECAC Hockey) carries a three game winning streak into a nationally televised (NBC Sports Network) contest against No. 16 Dartmouth (11-7-2, 7-5-1 ECAC Hockey) on Friday night at Messa Rink. The Dutchmen are coming off a dramatic 3-2 win over RPI in the inaugural Mayor's Cup at the Times Union Center on Saturday night. In that contest, freshman forward Matt Wilkins scored the game-winning power play goal with just over 36 seconds left to play in the third period to help Union earn its eighth straight win over the Engineers. After starting the season 8-2-2, Dartmouth is 3-5-0 in its last eight games, but is coming off a 5-1 win over Clarkson in its most recent contest on Saturday. The Big Green scored four third period goals to break the game open and Cab Morris made 20 saves in net to help Dartmouth earn the victory.
 
»Union on National Television
Over the last three seasons Union has played six games on national television, but Friday night will mark the first live nationally-televised broadcast from Messa Rink. Union is 3-3 in nationally televised games since the start of the 2010-11 season, which includes five games on the ESPN family of networks (four NCAA Tournament games), and one NBC Sports Network broadcast earlier this season on Jan. 11 at Princeton.
 
»Starting Off Fast
Union has made a habit of getting off to good starts this season, outscoring the opposition 29-11 in the first period of games this season. Union has scored in the first period in 16 of 25 contests this season and has a record of 10-3-3 in those games.
 
»Wayne Simpson on a Roll
Senior forward Wayne Simpson is playing some of his best hockey of the season over the past seven contests. Simpson is in the midst of a six game point streak, and has recorded 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in his last nine games. Simpson leads the team with 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) on the season.
 
»Union's Stellar Special Teams
The Dutchmen are off to a solid start in special teams play, bettering impressive numbers from a a season ago. Through 25 games, Union is 93-for-102 (91.2%, 2nd NCAA) on the penalty kill and 31-for-118 (26.3%, 1st NCAA) on the power play. Union is the only team in the nation to have top-2 power play and penalty kill units.
 
»Power Play Parity
Union, which has the nation's No. 1 power play at 26.3% (31-for-118), has scored more power play goals than any team in the country, and has nine different players with two or more power play goals.
 
»Scouting Dartmouth
Top Players (2012-13 Stats): So. F Tyler Sikura (9 goals, 16 assists), Jr. F Matt Lindblad (9 goals, 14 assists), Jr. F Eric Robinson (10 goals, 6 assists), Sr. F Dustin Walsh (7 goals, 6 assists) So. F Brandon McNally (6 goals, 5 assists), Sr. D Mike Keenan (2 goals, 8 assists)
 
Synopsis: Though Dartmouth has struggled of late (3-5 in last eight games), the Big Green have been one of the suprises in ECAC Hockey this season. Dartmouth is one of the top defensive teams in the nation (2.35 goals allowed/game) and has gotten outstanding goaltending from junior Cab Morris (8-3-1, 1.99 GAA, .922 Save%). A balanced scoring attack led by the top line of Lindblad, Sikura and Eric Neiley, has helped the Dartmouth offensive make great strides from a season ago, as the Big Green are scoring 3.20 goals per game (15th NCAA). Dartmouth has also been solid on special teams this season, sporting one of the nation's top penalty killing units at 90.5% (67-for-74, 4th NCAA) on the season to go along with a 17.5% (26th NCAA) conversion rate on the power play.
 
»The Union-Dartmouth Series
In a series that dates back to 1977, the Big Green own a 24-16-6 advantage over the Dutchmen and a 21-15 -6 record in the Division I era. Union is 3-4-3 against Dartmouth in its last 10 games, but earned a 7-1 win over the Big Green the last time the two teams met at Messa Rink, on Feb. 17, 2012. Union is 8-10-4 against Dartmouth at Messa Rink.
 
»Coburn Among Nation's Top D-Men
Senior defenseman Greg Coburn is enjoying his best season in a Union uniform as one of the team's top offensive options on the blue line. Coburn is third on the team with 20 points (8 goals, 12 assists), and leads the team with five power play goals.
He has already surpassed his previous single-season high for points (16) and is tied for seventh in the nation in points per game by a defenseman (0.80).
 
»Union Looks To Continue Trend Of Solid Second Half Play
Over the past three seasons, Union has played its best hockey of the season after the Christmas holiday. Since the 2009-10 season, Union is 51-24-3 in games played after Dec. 25, with winning streaks of at least five games in each of those campaigns.

»Road Warriors
Union has established itself as one of college hockey's toughest road teams over the past two seasons. Union is 17-10-6 in true road contests since the start of the 2011-12 season.
The Dutchmen are 15-4-4 in their last 23 ECAC Hockey road contests, dating back to the end of the 2010-11 season. Union will play 20 contests away from Messa Rink during the 2012-13 regular season, including a just-concluded season-long eight game stretch from Dec. 7-Jan. 12.
 
»An Eerily Similar First Half
Union entered the holiday break in December having played to three consecutive ties against Princeton (4-4), Brown (3-3), and Yale (2-2) in ECAC Hockey play. The Dutchmen were in a very similar spot to where they were a season ago at the same time. Through 15 games in 2011-12, Union had a record of 7-3-5, with a 3-2-2 mark in league play. In fact, the Dutchmen went on to tie their next league opponent, so Union's league record through eight games was the same as last season. Digging even further, Union's goal differential this season was +20 (54-34) at the holiday break, the exact same mark it was last season (49-29) through 15 games. Union's record through 15 games this season was 8-3-4 (3-2-3 ECAC Hockey).
 
»That's a Plus
Union has three players among the top-15 in ECAC Hockey for plus/minus. Senior forward Kyle Bodie is tied for third in ECAC Hockey at +14, while senior forward Wayne Simpson is tied for seventh at +12. Sophomore defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is tied for 12th in ECAC Hockey at +9 for the year.
 
»In League Play
Union's senior leaders have played their best hockey in ECAC Hockey play so far this season. Through 13 league games, senior Greg Coburn leads all ECAC Hockey defensemen in scoring wtih 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists). Senior forward Wayne Simpson is tied for eighth with 7 goals, and senior forward Kyle Bodie is tied for fifth with sophomore defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere with 9 assists.
 
»Union Ranked No. 18 in Latest USCHO.com Poll
Men's ice hockey moved up one spot to No. 18 in the latest USCHO.com poll released on Monday. Union has appeared in the USCHO.com poll for 80 consecutive weeks since the Dec. 7, 2009 rankings, extending a school record.
 
The Dutchmen received votes in the USA Today/ USA Hockey Magazine Poll, four spots out of the top-15. Union received 151 points in the USCHO.com poll and earned 6 points in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.