MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The University of Notre Dame dropped game two against the University of Minnesota, 4-1, Saturday night for the weekend split on the road.
Minnesota struck first, picking up a misplayed puck deep in the Irish zone for the 1-0 lead just 2:10 into play Saturday night.
The Irish dominated puck possession late in the opening frame, holding the Gophers defenders to nearly a three minute shift before Carter Slaggert buried home the loose puck to even the score, 1-1, at 16:38 of the first.
Following the Irish equalizer, the Gophers held possession the majority of the final 90 seconds of the first but four routine saves by Ryan Bischel kept the score tied as the teams headed to the locker rooms after 20 minutes of play.
The two teams went back and forth for the first few minutes of the second period but at 8:27 of the second stanza a Minnesota shot sailed top shelf, beating Bischel in net for the 2-1 score.
Minnesota extended their lead to two goals with 4:40 to play in the second period before finding the back of the net again just 39 seconds later off a deflection but the referee waved the deflection off immediately for a high stick. After a lengthy review the call was confirmed and the final four minutes wound down.
After two periods of play, the Irish found themselves facing the 3-1 deficit with 20 minutes left in regulation.
The Irish came out strong in the third period, outshooting the Gophers 9-2 through the first six minutes but the team in Blue was unable to break the Minnesota netminding and the score remained 3-1 midway through the frame.
At 6:45 of the third period Danny Nelson broke up a scoring chance for the Gophers but his stick got caught around the Gopher attacker and he was called for a hook, the team’s first penalty of the night.
The Gophers blocked Drew Bavaro’s shot from the point and took the rebound the other way with 4:25 to go, making it a 4-1 game.
Notre Dame went back to the powerplay just over a minute later, looking for a last second spark on the man-advantage. After gaining possession the Irish opted for the two-man advantage with Bischel on the bench but could not convert as the two teams skated to the 4-1 final.
GOALS
- Carrying the puck along the near boards, Maddox Fleming centered the puck to Ryan Siedem who found Tyler Carpenter right on the doorstep but his shot five-hole was stopped by Justen Close in the Gophers net. The two teams scrambled for the puck inside the paint with Siedem eventually poking it along the pads of Close to Carter Slaggert who buried a shot high for his first career goal.
KEY STATS
- The Irish finished with 38 shots on goal to the Gophers’ 33, including 18 pucks on net in the final 20 minutes of play.
- Carter Slaggert scored his first collegiate goal to tie things up late in the opening period with assists to Ryan Siedem and Tyler Carpenter.
- Notre Dame skaters blocked 13 shots in the contest, led by Siedem with three.
- The Irish posted a .519 percentage at the faceoff dot with Tyler Carpenter going seven-of-11 at the circle for a team best .636 success rate.
UP NEXT
The Irish return to Compton Family Ice Arena next Friday, November 24, for a one-game series against Boston College. Puck drop between the Irish and the Eagles is set for 4 p.m.