Dartmouth currently sits in third place in the conference, three points behind Harvard University and two points ahead of Quinnipiac University. Cornell (25-1-1, 19-0-1 ECAC), who has yet to lose an ECAC game this season, is currently in the top spot in the conference standings.
"Certainly it's going to be a tough game," head coach Mark Hudak said. "We might change a couple of little things in practice this week, but we are going to play our game."
Cornell the second-ranked team in the country leads the conference in goals scored per game, with 4.70, and in goals allowed per game, with 0.78. The Big Red roster holds four of the top five scorers and assist leaders in the conference.
Cornell outscored Yale and Brown last weekend by a combined margin of 15-1. Its only loss of the season came in an overtime match, playing at home against Mercyhurst College on Nov. 2.
"Sometimes it's better to play in a game like this where you are not expected to win," said Moira Scanlon '12, whose late goal lifted the Big Green past St. Lawrence University last weekend. "[Cornell has] a very well-rounded team, but we just have to play our own game."
If Dartmouth, ranked 10th in the nation, were to upset the Big Red, it could help improve the Big Green's ranking and secure an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament. Eight teams compete at the tournament, and the winner of the ECAC playoffs receives an automatic bid.
Colgate (11-17-3, 8-10-2 ECAC), which the Big Green plays on Saturday, is currently tied with two other teams for the last two playoff spots.
The top eight teams in the conference receive bids for the ECAC playoffs, while the top four teams receive home-ice advantage in the first round. The Big Green needs two points this weekend to ensure one of the top four spots.
"It's huge to have home ice in the playoffs," captain Katie Horner '11 said. "We have one of the most loyal fan bases in the ECAC and the seniors would love for everyone to come out and support us."
The game against the Raiders is also slated as Dartmouth's senior night.
"[My fellow players] are my very best friends," Horner said. "My mentality is that I don't want this to be the last time we are all together on the ice. I want us to win so we can keep going."
The Big Green's senior players boast impressive resumes. Horner has served as a defensive anchor for the past four seasons, forward Amanda Trunzo '11 has tallied 65 goals and 117 points, and Larissa Roche '11 and Alyssa Boehm '11 have played a combined 204 career games for Dartmouth.
Other skaters including Camille Dumais '13, Kelly Foley '12, Sasha Nanji '13, Reagan Fischer '12 and Jenna Hobeika '12 have made major contributions this season, recording over 20 points combined.
Another reason for Dartmouth's success this season has been the strong play of rookie goaltender Lindsay Holdcroft '14, who has allowed two or fewer goals in Dartmouth's last eight wins. Holdcroft was named the ECAC's best goaltender of the week on Tuesday and has been named the conference's rookie of the week two times this season.
Dartmouth will play Cornell on Friday at 7 p.m. before playing Colgate at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
