ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A strong second period showing by the Irish came up just short in the game one quarterfinals loss to Michigan 5-4, Friday night. A pair of powerplay goals from the Wolverines in the third period proved the difference in the contest as the Irish face a must-win game two tomorrow night as they look to extend their season in the Big Ten playoffs.
The Irish were handed the first powerplay opportunity of the night with just 3:02 elapsed in the first period.
Despite not being able to capitalize on the man-advantage early on, the Irish took the 1-0 lead at 5:33 of the opening period with a shot from the senior captain Landon Slaggert fired top shelf.
A physical first period continued before the Irish were whistled for a hook with 10:09 to play in the first frame. The Wolverines would capitalize on the man-advantage after a brief contact with Bischel by the Michigan attacker threw off the Notre Dame netminder.
The Wolverines scored again after a miscommunication at the blueline by the Irish defenders resulted in a 2-on-0 chance for the home team.
The 2-1 held through the end of the first period as the Irish skated to the locker room down by one through 20 minutes of play.
The Irish held play in the offensive end for a majority of the second stanza, outshooting the Wolverines 8-2 through the first nine minutes of play in the frame. Michigan was called for a hook at 7:55 of the middle period as the Irish looked to even the score on their second powerplay opportunity of the night.
Despite a few looks on net, the Irish were unable to break the Michigan netminding on the man-advantage and the Wolverines returned to full strength. The 5-on-5 did not last long however, as Michigan was whistled for another infraction, this time a trip, just moments later.
Notre Dame capitalized on the powerplay with a goal from Drew Bavaro to draw even with the Wolverines at 12:42 of the second period.
Patrick Moynihan and Bavaro kept the scoring going with a pair of tallies just 58 seconds apart to make it 4-2 in favor of the Irish late in the second but a goal from the Wolverines drew them back within one.
The Irish were called for a penalty with just over 18 minutes into the stanza to force the Irish to close out the period while on the kill but a hit along the boards in the defensive end drew a major and Notre Dame was tasked to kill off 46 seconds of a 5-on-3 disadvantage to maintain the lead through two periods.
The Irish escaped the second period with the 4-3 lead and just 10 seconds remaining on the two-man disadvantage.
Despite killing off the 5-on-3, Michigan capitalized on the major just 11 seconds into the third period to make it a 4-4 game.
The Wolverines scored again on the Irish major infraction to take the 5-4 lead at 3:04 of the third.
With just over two minutes to play in regulation, the Irish opted for the extra attacker. The Wolverines thought they had buried the final dagger but an early whistle from an official for icing negated the goal and the Irish hopes were revived with 90 seconds to play.
The Irish had a flurry of chances in the waning seconds but were unable to find their fifth goal of the night as they fell to the Wolverines, 5-4, Friday night in game one of the quarterfinals.
GOALS
- Patrick Moynihan held the puck along the end wall before blueliner Drew Bavaro came to retrieve the puck from the pile. The senior defensemen then fed a pass over to Landon Slaggert who raced up ice and fired a shot top shelf over the glove of the Michigan netminder for the 1-0 tally.
- The Irish knotted it up on the powerplay with a one-timer from Drew Bavaro from the point to make it a 2-2 game. After sending the puck in deep, Maddox Fleming intercepted a clear attempt by the Michigan netminder to set up the tying goal. Hunter Strand was also credited with an assist on the play.
- Moynihan scored with a sweep of the puck at the foot of the circle midway through the second period to give the Irish the 3-2 lead after Cole Knuble won the offensive zone faceoff.
- Bavaro scored his second of the night less than a minute after Moynihan’s tally to give the Irish the 4-2 lead. His shot on goal trickled through the five-hole of Barczewski in the Michigan net and crossed the line before a Michigan defender could clear it from the crease. Jayden Davis was credited with an assist on the goal, the first of his career.
KEY STATS
- Drew Bavaro led the team with three points on the night, including a pair of second period goals to give the Irish the lead heading into the third period. The senior blueliner also earned an assist on the night’s opening goal.
- Patrick Moynihan was named third star of the game after a goal and an assist in the contest. His goal, the ninth of the season for the graduate, sparked a two-goal in under a minute run for the Irish late in the second period.
- Jayden Davis scored his first collegiate assist Friday.
- Trevor Janicke, Bavaro and Davis all led the team in plus-minus with a +2 on-ice rating.
- Davis won 10 face-offs on the night with Hunter Strand also finishing with a .600 average.
UP NEXT
The Irish and Wolverines return to Yost Ice Arena Saturday night for game two of the best-of-three series with the Irish looking to extend their season in a must-win second game.