SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey team completed the weekend sweep over visiting conference foe Penn State, 6-3, Saturday night to further cement their place in the Big Ten standings as they sit third heading into an idle week.
Much like the first night, Penn State held the edge in shots on goal through the first period of play.
Ryan Bischel stood on his head through the opening 20 minutes of play, making highlight reel saves throughout the frame, but the Nittany Lions eventually broke the graduate netminder with an odd-man rush at 18:02. The play was reviewed as Bischel was slow to get up following a collision. The officials deemed the puck crossed the goal line before contact was made but Penn State was charged with a five minute major for charging the goaltender.
A second Penn State penalty gave the Irish the two-man advantage for the final 1:12 of the first period. Despite numerous chances late in the frame, the Irish were unable to capitalize on the advantage and they skated to the locker room down by one after one.
Patrick Moynihan broke the scoring drought just 43 seconds into the second period, still part the five-on-three advantage, capitalizing on a puck swept out in front by a Nittany Lions defender to knot it up 1-1.
The Irish took their first lead of the night just over halfway through the second period with a between the legs pass from Moynihan to Landon Slaggert who made it 2-1 at 11:50 of the second period, a score that would hold through the second intermission.
One of the nation’s active career leaders in power play goals, Moynihan net his second of the night on the man-advantage early in the third period to extend the Irish lead.
Penn State scored two unanswered goals to tie it up 3-3 but an ensuing penalty against the Nittany Lions immediately following the game-tying goal gave the Irish power play unit another chance.
The Irish capitalized on the man-advantage moments later when Danny Nelson scored his first of the night for the eventual game-winner.
Notre Dame added two goals on the empty net late in the contest , courtesy of Trevor Janicke and Nelson again, for the 6-3 final.
KEY STATS
- The team’s leading scorer, Landon Slaggert posted a career best four points off a goal and three assists Saturday night.
- In addition to Slaggert’s four points, four other Irish skaters tallied multi-point games in the win over Penn State, including Patrick Moynihan (2-1-3), Danny Nelson (2-0-2), Trevor Janicke (1-1-2) and Cole Knuble (0-2-2).
- In total, eight Irish individuals tallied a point in the contest.
- Registering two goals in the contest, Danny Nelson recorded the first multi-goal game of his career.
- With the win, Ryan Bischel improved to 13-11-2 on the season behind a 35 save performance in goal.
- On special teams, the Irish held the Nittany Lions scoreless on the power play while going three-for-six on their own power play opportunities.
- The Irish fired 33 shots on goal in the contest, led by Cole Knuble with five.
- Henry Nelson blocked a team best four shots in the contest.
UP NEXT
The Irish head into their idle weekend next week before hosting Michigan State February 2-3 back inside Compton Family Ice Arena.