SOUTH BEND, Ind. – No. 7 Notre Dame Hockey fell to Wisconsin, 3-1, in the best-of-three series opener of the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday night at Compton Family Ice Arena (3,634).
The Irish earned a season high by putting 50 shots on goal and held the Badgers to 28 on the night but Jared Moe’s 49 saves backstopped Wisconsin to the win.
Graham Slaggert tied the game, 1-1, just past the 13 minute mark of the second period, but the Badgers scored 38 seconds to take back a lead they would not relinquish.
“They played well so give them their due,” head coach Jeff Jackson said after the game. “It was playoff hockey, and you have to be prepared. Anything can happen in the playoffs. The goaltender played well, they keep you on the outside and we have to find a way to penetrate that.”
Graduate student Matthew Galajda made 24 saves for Notre Dame.
Notre Dame (25-10-0) finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while Wisconsin (10-22-3) was 0-for-1.
How It Happened
Five minutes into the opening frame Cam Burke nearly got the Irish on the board after following up a Max Ellis shot on goal, but following video review it was ruled the puck never crossed the goal line after hitting the far post.
Justin Janicke took a nice feed from Jack Adams in the high slot and rang one off the crossbar at 8:25 of the first.
The Irish continued to pressure and with 5:20 left in the first, Jake Pivonka’s stretch pass sprang Ryder Rolston on a partial breakaway attempt but his attempt went wide.
Wisconsin’s Brock Caufield then struck first, scoring his seventh of the season at 15:22 of the first.
Notre Dame had a power-play chance late in the first, with the best look coming from Nick Leivermann but his shot was pushed off the post by Wisconsin goaltender Jared Moe and cleared off the goal line by a defenseman.
Notre Dame trailed 1-0 after one.
With the extra attacker on during a delayed penalty, Jake Boltmann stepped into a one timer with 15:03 left in the second but it was stopped by Moe.
Galajda made a big shoulder stop on Daniel Laatsch at 11:11 of the second and smothered the follow-up attempt. Then Justin Janicke had a chance at the other end but couldn’t solve Moe.
Graham Slaggert broke through at 13:52 of the second, finishing off a one-timer from a Nick Leivermann cross-ice feed while the Irish were on the power play, with Ryder Rolston picking up the second assist. It was Slaggert’s 10th goal of the season.
But Wisconsin’s Dominick Mersch scored 38 seconds later to restore the Badgers’ lead to 2-1, which they would take to the locker room.
The Irish peppered Moe in the early going of the third but couldn’t tie it up before Zach Urdahl finished off a two-on-one chance with Sam Stange for a 3-1 Wisconsin lead at 5:57 of the third
Stastney set Landon Slaggert up in front with 8:39 left in the third, but the puck skipped over the sophomore’s stick when he tried to redirect it in the net.
Galajda was pulled with 3:42 left in the game, but the Irish were unable to extend the game, ultimately falling, 3-1.
Notes
- With an assist tonight, Nick Leivermann extended his point streak to three games (Feb. 25-Mar. 4; 0-4-4).
- With Graham Slaggert scoring a goal, it marked the third consecutive game with a tally from the Landon Slaggert/Graham Slaggert/Trevor Janicke line.
- For Slaggert, it marked his 10th goal of the year, extending his career-high total.
- Slaggert also became Notre Dame’s fifth 10-goal scorer this season.
Next Up
- Game two of the best-of-three series will take place at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 5 at Compton Family Ice Arena on March 4-6 (tickets).
- The game will also be available on BTN+.
– ND –