SOUTH BEND, Ind. – In a battle from start to finish Saturday evening, the Irish of Notre Dame fell to the No. 13/12 Michigan Wolverines 2-1 inside a sold out Compton Family Ice Arena.
Michigan got on the board first in game two of the weekend series, scoring just 6:04 into the first period after a shot trickled past the pads of Ryan Bischel in the Irish net to take the 1-0 lead.
Irish junior forward Hunter Strand net his first goal of the year, and second point of the weekend, to knot things up with 80 seconds to play in the first period to send both teams to their locker rooms in a 1-1 tie.
An evenly matched second period turned in favor of the visiting team late in the frame with a tic-tac-toe play finding its way into the back of the Notre Dame net.
The Irish found themselves still down by one as they headed to the third period and continued to battle for that elusive game-tying goal but were unsuccessful in the final 20 minutes of play despite firing eight shots on goal and two powerplay chances.
Perhaps their best looks of the frame came in the final minute of regulation as the Irish opted for the extra attacker while on the powerplay and Danny Nelson ripped three shots on net from the top of the circle but could not beat the Wolverine netminder for the 2-1 final.
With two goals against in the contest, Ryan Bischel posted 33 saves for a two game total of 60.
GOALS
- Michigan tried to chip the puck out of their defensive end but Landon Slaggert collided with the Wolverine player along the boards and knocked him off the puck. Justin Janicke raced over the blue line to catch the loose puck before it could reach the neutral zone and centered a pass back to Hunter Strand for his first goal of the season.
KEY STATS
- With the lone Irish goal Saturday, Hunter Strand lit the lamp for his first time in 2023-24 and now boasts six points (1-5-6). He finished the weekend series with a goal and an assist in the team’s split with Michigan.
- Ryan Bischel recorded a .943 save percentage Saturday as he moves to 8-6-2 on the season between the pipes.
- The Irish fired 29 shots on goal in the loss, led by Grant Silianoff’s six.
- After giving up a powerplay goal the night previously in a five-on-three opportunity, the Irish penalty kill unit posted a perfect three-for-three record Saturday, keeping the Wolverines off the board on the special teams.
UP NEXT
The Irish head into the holiday break after a road trip to Michigan State next weekend, Dec. 8-9. Game one of the weekend series is slated for 7 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena followed by a 6 p.m. start Saturday to close out the first half of the season.