EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Irish hockey team fell on night two to No. 7/7 Michigan State, 2-1, inside Munn Ice Arena. Despite a late push from the Irish offensive powers, the team was unable to even the tally and they drop to 8-8-2 on the season heading into the holiday break.
The Spartans struck first in game two of the weekend series to take the 1-0 lead at 6:46 of the game. With the puck lodged under Bischel’s skate, MSU kept whacking at the crease before the official whistled the play frozen. Their last attempt eventually went in as ND trailed by one early.
Following the Spartan tally the two teams traded powerplays and the next few minutes were played on special teams. Neither team was able to capitalize on their man-advantages and the score remained 1-0 at the end of 20 minutes.
MSU extended their lead at 3:51 of the middle frame with a powerplay tally following a slashing call against the Irish.
Landon Slaggert nearly got one back in the final seconds of the second period but he was brought down on the breakaway and the clock ran out on the stanza and the Irish faced the 2-0 deficit through 40 minutes of play.
The Irish peppered the Spartan end in shots during the final 20 minutes of action, breaking the MSU netminder once in the final minute but were unable to light the lamp again on their final chances as they dropped the series to the home Spartans Saturday night.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame heads into its three week holiday break following Saturday night’s final. The team will return to action as they kick off the second half of the season December 30-31 at home against Augustana.