MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin men's hockey team travels to South Bend, Indian, this weekend for their first road series of the new year. The Badgers are set to play the No. 18 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and fans can expect another exciting series from these two teams. Here are six quick things you need to know before tuning in:

1. ROMAN'S CONQUERING: Sophomore Roman Ahcan has been a major spark in the Wisconsin offense through the new year. Ahcan has four goals over the last four games coming out of Wisconsin's month-long break. The second-year forward tallied a goal in each game and totaled three scores in the Badgers' series versus the Buckeyes, and broke a 1-1 third-period deadlock with the game-winning goal against Michigan State last Saturday. Wisconsin is 8-1-0 when Ahcan notches a point this season.

Ahcan's line with Ty Pelton-Byce and Owen Lindmark has five goals and nine points in the last three games. When together this season, the Badgers are 5-2-0 and the line boast 11 goals, 23 points and three game-winning goals.

2. THINGS ARE BETTER IN TWOS: Last Saturday versus Michigan State, not only did Ahcan notch his fifth multi-point game of the season, but Badgers Ty Pelton-Byce, Wyatt Kalynuk and Owen Lindmark all recorded a multi-point game with two points each. Kalynuk assisted on two goals to go along with Pelton-Byce and Lindmark both recording both a goal and an assist. Kalynuk now sits at a team leading 18 career multi-point games with Pelton-Byce at three and Lindmark at four. 

3. SWEEPING UP THE BIG PICTURE: Wisconsin has opened up 2020 with two series splits with Ohio State and Michigan State. Both teams were ranked at the time Wisconsin faced them, and both losses came on Friday nights. The Badgers are looking to get their first sweep of the new decade against Notre Dame this weekend. The Badgers split the series with them in Madison last November. A sweep this weekend could help immensely in Wisconsin's current Big Ten standings and provide momentum heading into the last stretch of Big Ten play.

4. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers last faced the Fighting Irish on home ice last November. Notre Dame was ranked No. 6 and unbeaten at the time. This changed shortly after these two teams hit the ice. Wisconsin shutout the Irish in Friday night's matchup, notching three goals of their own. Goalie Daniel Lebedeff shined in the game totaling 22 saves. The next night was a battle that needed more than 60 minutes. Wisconsin entered its first overtime game of the season and ended up dropping the game in a heartbreaker after a Cole Caufield shot was inches away from sealing a Badger victory before Notre Dame claimed the win.

5. SCOUTING NOTRE DAME: The 10-10-4 Fighting Irish currently sit fourth in the Big Ten behind Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State. Their leading scorer is senior forward Cam Morrison. Morrison did not score a point against the Badgers in their last series matchup. Wisconsin will likely face senior goalie Cal Morris. Morris has a .942 save percentage over the last eight games, stopping 243 of his last 258 shots. Morris's all time save percentage versus Wisconsin is .925. Notre Dame's top five scorers are all forwards. Wisconsin has two defensemen in the top six of their scoring in K'Andre Miller and Kalynuk. Getting the back line for the Badgers involved in the offense can be a key to Wisconsin's success.

6. HOW TO WATCH: Puck drop is 6 p.m. Friday night and 5 p.m. Saturday night from Compton Family Ice Arena. Fans can tune into both games on NBC Sports Chicago+ and NBC Sports Philadelphia+, with streaming at NBC.com and the NBC app. Radio broadcasts air on 1070 WTSO and 130 WIBA on respective nights. Find the radio broadcast on the statewide Badger Sports Network and the iheart radio app, as well. Live stats and updated are available at uwbadgers.com and by following @BadgerMHockey on Twitter.