ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Notre Dame hockey program fell in their regular season finale to the University of Michigan, 2-1, Saturday night.
The Wolverines were whistled for a penalty just 93 seconds into play after an Irish skater ended up in their bench and the special teams were tested early.
Notre Dame’s first powerplay unit held the puck in the offensive zone for the entirety of the penalty before Danny Nelson took advantage of a tired Michigan penalty kill team to make it 1-0 at 3:05 of the opening period.
Michigan thought they answered six minutes later after a long offensive zone presence but the Irish challenged the zone entry for offsides. After a review, the challenge was successful and the goal was waved off.
The Wolverines did eventually even the tally when a shot off the rush beat the glove of Ryan Bischel to make it a 1-1 game at 10:10 of play.
Notre Dame was called for a trip shortly after the Michigan goal and the Irish penalty kill unit was tasked with holding off a pressing offense.
The Irish failed to convert on a late powerplay opportunity to end the first period as the two teams skated to the intermission deadlocked 1-1.
A tightly contested second stanza did not sway in either team’s favor as the Irish and Wolverines were scoreless through the middle 20 minutes. With home ice on the line for both teams on the line, a crucial third period loomed.
The Irish started the third period on the penalty kill early after Michael Mastrodomenico was sent into the goal and the net dislodged. The visitors successfully killed off the five-on-four disadvantage after a shorthanded chance from Landon Slaggert was stifled.
A physical third period continued before Michigan was eventually called for unsportsmanlike conduct at 11:12 of the third period. The Irish failed to capitalize on the man-advantage as the clock ticked under seven minutes left in regulation.
The Wolverines took advantage of a shot late in the period to make it 2-1 in favor of the home team with 2:52 to play.
Despite a series of chances in the final 90 seconds of play, the Irish could not convert and ultimately fell 2-1 in their regular season finale.
GOALS
- Danny Nelson opened the scoring Saturday with a shot from the right dot to give the Irish the 1-0 lead. Ryan Siedem found the rookie at the dot who passed it down to the goal line where Patrick Moynihan fed a quick pass back to Nelson for the tally.
UP NEXT
The Irish will have a weekend off before heading into postseason play with the Big Ten playoff quarterfinals slated for March 9-11.