By Nate Ewell

Penn State carries an NCAA-best nine-game active winning streak into Big Ten play, which begins Thursday vs. Michigan. The Nittany Lions have been fueled by a fantastic freshman class, including the team’s top two scorers. Denis Smirnov (Moscow, Russia/Fargo-USHL/NHL draft eligible) leads the way with points in 12 of 13 games, including seven multiple-point games. Only Kyle Connor (1.87) and Jack Eichel (1.77) have recorded more points per game among freshmen than Smirnov (1.69) since 2000. | Thursday’s game is on ESPNU

Most Points, Freshman Class
63 – Penn State (26g-37a)
53 – American International (22g-31a)
51 – Boston College (14g-37a)
51 – Clarkson (17g-34a)
46 – Boston University (22g-24a)

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Mr. Robinson – Princeton picked up its first two wins of the season in impressive fashion, earning a sweep at Bemidji State. The Tigers’ offense has been led by a breakthrough season from junior Eric Robinson (Bellmawr, N.J./Dubuque-USHL), who carries a six-game point streak into this weekend. Robinson has 8 points in that time after posting 15 in his first 61 career games. A pro prospect with size (6-2, 200) and speed, Robinson has a family connection to the NHL as well – brother Buddy, who played at Lake Superior State, played three games with the Ottawa Senators last year and is currently with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators.

Another Gaudreau leads BC – College hockey returns to Madison Square Garden for the second straight Saturday night with traditional powers and top-10 teams Boston College and North Dakota squaring off. A familiar name leads the Eagles in scoring, as Matthew Gaudreau (Carneys Point, N.J./Omaha-USHL) carries a six-game point streak into the world’s most famous arena. Gaudreau – who played only eight games as a freshman while brother, Johnny, won the Hobey Baker Award – has developed into a skilled playmaker who has 14 of his 18 points at even strength. Only three players nationally have more even-strength points. | Saturday’s game is on CBSSN

Most Even-Strength Points
17 – Denis Smirnov, Penn State
17 – Anders Bjork, Notre Dame (BOS)
15 – Mike Vecchione, Union
14 – Matthew Gaudreau, Boston College
14 – Joey Anderson, Minnesota Duluth (NJ)
14 – Shane Gersich, North Dakota (WSH)
14 – Tyson Jost, North Dakota (COL)

RMU’s new leader – Robert Morris lost five 30-plus-point scorers to graduation but junior Brady Ferguson (Lewisville, Texas/Amarillo-NAHL) – who had a relatively quiet 34 points last season – has assumed the leading role for the 6-4-2 Colonials. The Texan is one of 20 players from his home state across Division I and the only player nationwide with a 6-point game this year (Oct. 8 in a 6-5 win at RIT). Ferguson has points in six straight games as RMU returns to Atlantic Hockey play this weekend with a home series vs. Sacred Heart.

Healthy Mayhew sparks FSU – Ferris State is 5-2-0 after an 0-7-1 start, climbing back into the WCHA race with a series at the team one point ahead, Alabama-Huntsville, this weekend. The start was misleading, however, as much of it came with senior Gerald Mayhew (Wyandotte, Mich./Cedar Rapids-USHL) sidelined by injury. The preseason WCHA Player of the Year and former Michigan Mr. Hockey winner has returned with 10 points in eight games, including goals in each of the last five.

A real winner – Omaha senior Austin Ortega (Escondido, Calif./Fargo-USHL) has led the nation in game-winning goals each of the last two seasons, including a single-season NCAA record 11 in 2014-15. He enters a weekend series at Wisconsin one GWG shy of the NCAA’s career record. Ortega, who leads the Mavericks with 9 goals and 17 points through 14 games, has scored the deciding goal in 47% of Omaha’s wins since his sophomore season. | Friday’s game is on American Sports Network and TSN

NCAA Record, Career Game-Winning Goals
23 – Brett Sterling, Colorado College (2003-06)
23 – Kyle Rau, Minnesota (2012-15)
22 – Austin Ortega, Omaha (2013-present)

Fries at the Bottom of the Bag

Wednesday’s U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony features several college hockey connections.php … Two NCAA freshmen were invited to Canada’s World Junior Championship selection camp … Seven of the top 16 teams in this week’s USCHO.com poll did not make the NCAA Tournament last season … Bemidji State and Michigan Tech – the top two teams in the WCHA standings – meet for a series this weekend in Houghton, Mich. … Catch Wisconsin head coach Tony Granato on a number of radio stations Thursday, including NHL Network Radio (11 a.m. ET) … Top rivalries on tap this weekend include Colorado College-Denver and Maine-New Hampshire, both in home-and-homes.