MADISON, Wis. — The University of Notre Dame hockey team fell to No. 4/4 Wisconsin Saturday, 3-2, despite two third period goals.
A turnover by the Irish along their defensive halfwall resulted in a Wisconsin goal as the Badger attacker skated in alone on goal and shot the puck past Bischel with 14:00 to play in the opening frame.
The Irish were charged with a tripping penalty shortly after the goal and despite a handful of shorthanded chances, they were unable to even the score as play returned to even strength.
Wisconsin was whistled for a hooking penalty late in the frame but the Irish could not capitalize on the man-advantage and faced the one-goal deficit at the first intermission.
The Irish narrowed the shots on goal margin early in the second period but could not convert and Wisconsin regained possession halfway through the period.
Bischel made a series of sprawling saves near the midway point to keep it a one-goal game before a slashing call against the Irish sent them back on the kill.
The team successfully killed their second penalty of the night and forced Kyle McClellan to make a few key saves in the Badger net late in the frame.
Notre Dame was whistled for a slashing penalty late in the middle stanza and, after killing the two minute disadvantage off, Mastrodomenico and Henry Nelson nearly combined on an all-defenseman goal but the pass hit just off the tape of the rookie and the Irish continued to trail by one through 40 minutes of play.
An early collision in the Irish zone left a defender down briefly and a representative from each side in the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. Both teams killed the 4v4 play and both men returned to the ice partway through the final frame.
Wisconsin was called for a hook shortly after and the Irish powerplay unit went to work at 3:52 of the third period. On the powerplay, Landon Slaggert cleaned up the loose puck and buried a rebound to knot things up 1-1 just under five minutes into the frame.
A slashing penalty on the Irish resulted in a Wisconsin goal to make it 2-1 at 9:39 of the third frame.
The Badgers extended their lead with a goal at 13:52 of the third while a Wisconsin player was in the crease. The Irish challenged the play for goaltender interference as Bischel was unable to get back in position before the puck crossed the line but the officials deemed the goal good and it was 3-1 for the Badgers.
Cole Knuble scored his first of the weekend with the Irish opting for an extra attacker late in the period but it was not enough as the controversial goal proved to be the game-winner Saturday night.
The Irish finished the contest with 25 shots on goal while Bischel had 27 saves between the pipes.
GOALS
- The team’s leading scorer Landon Slaggert snapped his scoring drought with a tally partway through the third period. The goal, scored on the powerplay, came off a shot from Patrick Moynihan originally set up by Cole Knuble. The graduate forward ripped a shot on net where Slaggert and Trevor Janicke stood atop the crease trying to break the Badger netminding.
- Cole Knuble scored the final goal of the evening with a shot as the extra attacker late in the contest. With both teams serving penalties in the box, the Irish opted for a fifth skater in place on the netminder and it paid off as the team drew within one at 16:13 of the contest. His linemates Slaggert and Moynihan were each credited with the assists.
KEY STATS
- The Irish first line accounted for both goals Saturday night with Landon Slaggert and Cole Knuble each finding the back of the net.
- Both goals were scored with the man-advantage as Slaggert’s powerplay tally was just the second allowed by the home Badgers inside the Kohl Center this season. Knuble’s goal came with the extra attacker late in the contest to pull within one.
- Slaggert and Patrick Moynihan each finished the night with two points as Moynihan had an assist on both Irish goals while Landon scored the first of the night before recording an assist on Knuble’s.
- The Irish were one-for-two on the powerplay while holding the Badgers to just one powerplay goal on five opportunities, including a five-minute major late in the contest.
UP NEXT
The Irish close out their regular season home slate next weekend when they host Minnesota in a Friday/Saturday series. Game one is set for a 7:35 p.m. puck drop as part of Fan Appreciation night at Compton Family Ice Arena before the team celebrates its senior and graduate classes Saturday evening beginning with a 6:05 p.m. puck drop.