SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey program fell Friday night to the #5/6 University of Wisconsin off a late powerplay goal as the team dropped to 10-9-2 on the season.
The two teams traded penalties in the first period, with the Irish surrendering the first infraction with too many men before the Badgers were whistled for a hit in the neutral zone, but neither team was able to capitalize through the first 20 minutes of play as they skated to the dressing rooms knotted at 0-0.
Wisconsin broke the stalemate at 12:40 of the second period with a deflection in front of the crease that beat Ryan Bischel through the five-hole.
The Irish were whistled for another penalty shortly after the Wisconsin goal but the penalty kill unit showed up strong in the waning minutes of play, eventually netting the game-tying goal with just one second remaining on the infraction for their first shorthanded goal of the season, off the stick of Hunter Strand.
Strand’s equalizer stood as the final goal of the middle frame and the two teams headed to the locker room in a 1-1 tie through 40 minutes of play.
Both sides continued battling for the go ahead goal with shots nearly even through the 45-minute mark but Wisconsin would capitalize on a powerplay opportunity halfway through the third frame for the 2-1 tally.
The Irish had a chance to bounce back as the Badgers were called for a five-minute major at 10:06 of the third period but were unable to find the scoring lane and play returned to five-on-five action. Moments later, and back on the penalty kill, Cole Knuble rang a shorthanded shot off the pipe for the team’s best look in the third period as they ultimately fell, 2-1, to the Badgers.
GOALS
- Justin Janicke picked off a Wisconsin attacker along the near boards and raced up ice with Paul Fischer and Hunter Strand. With the puck on Fischer’s stick, the rookie sent the feed back to Janicke who fired a shot on goal. The rebound ricocheted off the pads of Wisconsin’s McClellan in net and onto the stick of Strand who buried his shot.
KEY STATS
- With a goal Friday night, Hunter Strand now boasts five points in his last three games (1-4-5).
- The shorthanded tally off the stick of Strand was the team’s first of the season.
- Between the pipes, Ryan Bischel finished with 27 saves on 29 shots faced.
- The Irish outshot the Badgers 34-29 in the contest while adding 13 blocked shots to keep the Badgers’ shots off net.
- With four shots on goal a piece, Cole Knuble and Strand led the team in the category while Ryan Siedem, Drew Bavaro and Paul Fischer all blocked three shots for a team high.
UP NEXT
The two teams close out the weekend series Saturday evening with a 5 p.m. puck drop set for Compton Family Ice Arena.