CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The No. 19 University of Notre Dame hockey team got back in the win column Friday with a 5-2 victory over the Boston College Eagles.
Tyler Carpenter had a career night against the Eagles, recording the first multi-goal and multi-point game of his career (2-1-3).
The two teams wasted no time showing physicality as the Eagles took a hooking penalty just 17 seconds into play. The Irish powerplay unit lasted nearly a minute before a trip was called against the Blue and Gold at 1:11 of the contest.
After surrendering a few shots on the Irish net, the defense buckled down and raced up ice into the attacking zone. Holding the puck to set up a play, Ryder Rolston found Chase Blackmun at the blue line who fired a pass to Nick Leivermann to make it a 1-0 game at 12:46 of the first period.
The Irish looked poised to carry the one-goal lead into the first intermission but the Eagles denied those plans with a goal at 19:44 of the opening frame to even the tally.
Boston College carried the momentum from their late first period goal into the second, taking just 67 seconds to score another and make it a 2-1 game.
The Irish answered right back at Tyler Carpenter evened the score at 2:22 of the second stanza to make it a 2-2 game.
Carpenter added to the box score late in the second when his shot from the point was deflected by Jesse Lansdell at the top of the slot, giving the Irish a 3-2 lead at the second intermission.
Halfway through the final frame the Eagles were called for a trip and the Irish powerplay unit peppered their defense with shots on the man advantage. Despite maintaining puck possession in the Eagles’ zone for the duration of the powerplay, the Irish were unable to break the BC goaltending.
Moments after the Eagles’ penalty expired, Carpenter capitalized on a loose puck in the crease and doubled the Irish lead with his second goal of the night.
Ben Brinkman scored the final goal of the night, and his second of the road trip, with an empty net goal at 18:05.
With the win, the Irish move to 7-7-2 on the season.
GOALS
- Nick Leivermann scored his team-best fifth goal of the year off a rocket shot with just over seven minutes to go in the opening period. Ryder Rolston carried the puck along the boards before sending it back to a waiting Chase Blackmun at the point. Seeing an open Leivermann skating in at the far circle, the graduate defenseman found his fellow blue-liner for the one timer.
- Solag Bakich won the puck battle along the boards, finding Trevor Janicke behind the net who centered the puck for a hustling Tyler Carpenter in the slot. The goal was Carpenter’s second of the year.
- The Irish net goal three of the evening late in the second period as Jesse Lansdell’s redirect at the top of the slot bounced into the back of the net for the 3-2 tally. Carpenter registered the lone assist on the play, denying a clearing attempt from the Eagle zone as he intercepted a pass at the blue line to keep play onside.
- Carpenter’s career night continued halfway through the third period, netting his second of the night – the first multi-goal night of his career. Lansdell’s shot ricocheted off the pads of the BC netminder before Carpenter could corral it for the 4-2 tally. With the second assist on the play, Michael Mastrodomenico recorded his first collegiate point.
- With the BC goaltender racing to the bench, Ben Brinkman capitalized on the empty net, sending the puck deep from the Irish defensive end into the back of the net 200 feet away. Drew Bavaro and Hunter Strand were each credited with assists on the play.
KEY STATS
- Nick Leivermann’s fifth goal of the season leads the Irish and gave ND the 1-0 lead partway through the first period.
- With a goal and assist in the second period, Tyler Carpenter set a career-best night with two points (1-1-2) and doubled his season total (2-2-4). The sophomore continued his career night with his first multi-goal game with the Irish.
- His empty net goal late in the contest was the second on the week for Brinkman.
- Jesse Lansdell tied his career-high point total with two Friday night. The senior had a goal and an assist in the Irish victory over the Eagles.
- The Irish outshot the Eagles Friday night, 26-24, with Ryan Bischel recording 22 saves in the victory.
UP NEXT
The Irish will rest for a weekend before returning to action Dec. 9-10 to host Penn State inside the Compton Family Ice Arena.