Irish hockey split their weekend series with the ninth-ranked Michigan Wolverines in South Bend. We recap the high-scoring affairs here:
Photo via Notre Dame Athletics
Michigan entered the weekend 12-7-1 including a sweep of Notre Dame in Ann Arbor in early November. The Wolverines also own notable ranked wins against St. Cloud State, Western Michigan, Ohio State, and a sweep of Boston University.
Notre Dame entered 6-13-1 coming off a series with Penn State which featured a shootout win for the Irish in ‘The Frozen Confines’ at Wrigley Field.
Friday Result: (3-5, Loss)
Friday night’s high-scoring game featured all eight goals occurring within the first 40 minutes of the contest with four goals each in the first and second periods.
Notre Dame took advantage early taking a 2-0 lead in the first ten minutes. Irish forward Cole Knuble sniped in his eighth goal of the year thanks to the Wolverine goalie losing his stick earlier in the play. Fellow forwards Hunter Strand and Blake Biondi were credited with assists on the game-opening score.
Following a Michigan interference penalty, the Irish struck again less than two minutes after Knuble’s goal. Biondi connected on the power play goal after finding himself wide open in front of the net and beating the opposing goalie. His seventh score of the year was assisted by forwards Justin Janicke and Knuble.
After the Irish took a two-goal lead, the Wolverines flipped the game with five consecutive scores in nearly a 20-minute span.
Just over 12 minutes into the game and with about ten seconds remaining on a Michigan power play, following a hooking call on Biondi, the Wolverines’ Mark Estapa scored his first goal of the season to cut their deficit down to one.
Under four minutes later, Michigan’s Kienan Draper tied the game at 2-2 following his first of a two-goal night.
Both offenses were firing on all cylinders as they each tallied 12 shots in the first period, including two goals apiece heading into the second.
Just over three minutes into the second period, Michigan’s Philippe Lapointe snuck one past Irish goalie, Nicholas Kempf, after a great assist from Ethan Edwards to give the Wolverines a 3-2 lead.
The Michigan onslaught did not end as about five and a half minutes later Draper added his second goal of the night, extending the lead to 4-2. This would end up being all that the Wolverines needed to come out with a victory on Friday.
However, they added another goal to make it a 5-2 game about 12 minutes into the period. A great power play set from the Wolverines allowed Edwards to connect on his second score of the year. Irish defenseman Paul Fischer was assessed a slashing penalty, allowing for the Michigan man advantage.
The Irish finally responded with under three minutes remaining in the frame. Defenseman Axel Kumlin put the moves on a Michigan defender before finishing his fourth goal of the season. Fellow defenseman Ryan Helliwell and Knuble were credited with assists on the goal that made it a 5-3 game.
Offensively, Michigan dominated the second period, outshooting the Irish 14-6. Kempf was forced to do too much as the Wolverines' offense exhibited their speed and prowess.
In the third period, the Irish played very well, outshooting Michigan 13-7. Notre Dame just could not beat Wolverine goalie, Logan Stein, as they pulled Kempf for a man advantage for nearly four minutes to close the game. Both teams played mistake-free hockey in the final frame, guaranteeing the Wolverines their 5-3 victory.
Key Player Stats:
Cole Knuble (ND): 1 goal on 7 shots, 2 assists, +2
Blake Biondi (ND): 1 goal on 5 shots, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot, +1
Kienan Draper (UM): 2 goals on 3 shots, +2
Ethan Edwards (UM): 1 goal on 4 shots, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot, +1
Mark Estapa (UM): 1 goal on 2 shots, 1 assist, 2 blocked shots
Key Team Stats:
Shots: UM (33) - ND (31)
Power Play Success: UM (2-2) - ND (1-1)
Faceoffs Won: ND (32) - UM (28)
Saturday Result: (7-4, Win)
Saturday night was more of the same with high-scoring action all game, this time with the Irish coming out on top. Notre Dame goaltender Owen Say led the way with 37 saves as the Irish offense outscored the Wolverines in each period thanks to a Justin Janicke five-point night which included a hat trick.
It took a little bit for the offenses to come alive, but it was Michigan’s Evan Werner who struck first, giving the Wolverines a 1-0 lead about 12 minutes into the game. Werner’s eighth goal of the year was a result of a Notre Dame turnover in their own zone.
Notre Dame’s Janicke responded just over a minute later with a breakaway, shorthanded goal. The forward put the moves on Michigan goaltender Cameron Korpi following a Wolverine turnover to tie the game at 1-1.
About four and a half minutes following his goal, and under three minutes to play in the period, Janicke set up Paul Fischer for his first score of the season right in front of the net. Forwards Janicke and Danny Nelson were credited with assists on the goal that gave the Irish a 2-1 lead. They would hold on to this lead for the rest of the period.
Owen Say’s 14 saves and the successful penalty kill which included a shorthanded goal were among the highlights of the first twenty minutes.
The second period featured an offensive explosion from Notre Dame containing three goals in 32 seconds.
Hunter Strand got the outburst started about five and a half minutes into the period when he redirected defenseman Jimmy Jurcev’s shot right in front of the net to give the Irish a 3-1 lead. Jurcev and Blake Biondi were credited with assists on the goal, marking the defenseman’s first collegiate point.
15 seconds later, Janicke beat Korpi with a backhander in front of the net thanks to a great pass from forward Brennan Ali. Ali and defenseman Henry Nelson were credited with assists on Janicke’s second goal of the night. Following this goal which gave the Irish a 4-1 lead, the Wolverines changed goalies from Korpi to Friday night’s winner, Logan Stein.
The Irish did not treat Stein kindly from the jump, getting one past the netminder just 17 seconds after entering the contest. Danny Nelson finished a backhander to extend the Notre Dame lead to 5-1, and this would end up being the eventual game-winner. Ali and Janicke were credited with assists on Nelson’s first goal after winning gold at the World Juniors for Team USA.
Michigan would respond about nine minutes into the period with two goals in 32 seconds. The Wolverines’ William Whitelaw added a slap shot, power-play goal with Knuble serving a minor roughing penalty to cut their deficit to 5-2. 32 seconds later, Philippe Lapointe snuck one past Say to make it 5-3 over halfway through the contest.
All five second-period goals occurred in this nearly four-minute span. During the last ten minutes of the frame, Say played well and Stein appeared to be more comfortable in the net. Both teams were getting testy with five roughing penalties assessed to the two sides in this period.
About eight minutes into the third period, Strand added his second goal of the night to give the Irish a 6-3 lead. Knuble and Biondi were credited with assists on Strand’s sixth goal of the year.
With about eight minutes remaining in the game, Michigan added another power-play goal to make it a 6-4 game.
As time expired in the contest, Janicke added another goal to secure his hat trick and a 7-4 victory for Notre Dame.
We will see if this ranked victory can carry the 7-14-1 Irish to success at Minnesota next weekend.
Key Player Stats:
Justin Janicke (ND): 3 goals on 4 shots, 2 assists, 1 blocked shot, +5
Danny Nelson (ND): 1 goal on 4 shots, 2 assists, +6
Paul Fischer (ND): 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot, +1
Owen Say (ND): 37 saves, 4 goals against
Key Team Stats:
Shots: UM (41) - ND (29)
Power Play Success: UM (2-3) - ND (0-1)
Penalty Minutes: ND (10) - UM (6)
Blocked Shots: ND (14) - UM (7)
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SOMEone please retire those dirty hockey pants. Dirt is what hockey is all about; dirt is not for gold when gold represents NotreDame.