November 25, 1998
Irish continue to play without three injured starters
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Ed Kowalski poked home a controversial power-play goal midway through the third period and Ferris State added an empty-net goal as the Bulldogs defeated No. 5 Notre Dame, 4-2, to forge a three-way tie atop the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings Tuesday at Van Andel Arena, home of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
Notre Dame (9-3-2, 7-3-1 CCHA) owned a 32-23 edge in shots but again faced a solid goaltender, as FSU sophomore Vince Owen came up with 30 saves, including 12 in the final period. Ferris State (8-3-2, 7-3-1 CCHA) overcame a second-period, 1-0 deficit before pulling away from a 2-2 game in the final 10 minutes.
Idle Michigan (7-2-1) stands tied with Notre Dame and FSU atop the CCHA standings while Michigan State (6-2-2) is just one point back.
The Irish played without injured senior left wing Aniket Dhadphale for the fourth straight game while two other injured regulars-junior right wing Joe Dusbabek and sophomore defenseman Ryan Clark-were sidelined for the second straight game.
The game-winning goal came after a shot from senior right wing Joel Irwin was apparently covered by Irish senior goaltender Forrest Karr, who was sprawled out parallel to the goalline with the puck resting under his legs. But Kowalski reached in from the left side of the crease, pulled the puck out and poked it into the vacated net for the second FSU power-play goal of the night and a 3-2 Bulldogs lead (9:02). It was just the second goal of the season for the right wing Kowalski, one of eight seniors in the FSU lineup and one of six senior forwards who skated Tuesday night for the Bulldogs.
The Irish earned a power-play chance with just over two minutes left to play and pulled Karr with one minute left for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Bennetts forced a turnover and sent a mid-ice shot into the empty net (19:15).
Notre Dame nearly forced a 3-3 tied with 3:30 left to play, when sophomore left wing Chad Chipchase poked the puck free to set up a breakaway chance for junior center Ben Simon. With a FSU defenseman on his heels, the lefthanded-shooting Simon skated between the circles and sent a forehand shot over Owens’ left shoulder. But the puck clanged off the far right post, preserving the Bulldogs’ one-goal margin.
Irish freshman center David Inman opened the scoring seven minutes into the second period with his sixth goal of the season. Sophomore left wing Dan Carlson worked the puck to senior right wing Brian Urick, whose shot from the top of left circle was blocked by Owen. But Inman was in position for the rebound at the right side of the crease and nudged the puck into the net (6:52).
Ferris quickly tied the game and then surged to the lead. Senior left wing Casey Harris hesitated before burying a shot from between the circles that sailed over Karr’s left shoulder and into the upper right corner of the net (8:12), giving Harris just his second goal of the season. Bennetts then pushed the Bulldogs in front with a power-play shot from close range (10:21), his team-leading seventh goal of the season.
Notre Dame tied the game minutes later on a questionable goal credited to Chipchase, his fifth goal of the season and third in the last three games. Simon and Urick set up the power-play shot from the top of the right circle, with the puck bouncing back into play from where the left post and crossbar meet. The Irish players raised their hands in celebration while the officials conferred before deciding that the puck had cleared the pipes before kicking out, thus producing a 2-2 tie (14:02).
The dubious goal ended Notre Dame’s 1-for-15 power-play drought while equaling Chipchase’s goal total from his freshman season.
NOTRE DAME 0 2 0 - 2FERRIS STATE 0 2 2 - 4
2nd: ND 1. Inman 6 (Urick, Carlson) 6:52; FSU 1. Harris 2 (Homer) 8:12; FSU 2. Bennetts (Homer, McCullough) 10:21; ND 2. Chipchase 5 (Urick, Simon) 14:02.
3rd: FSU 3. Kowalski (Irwin, Dube) 9:02; FSU 4. Bennetts (unassisted) 19:15.
Shots on Goal: ND 9-11-12/32; FSU 4-6-13/23.
Saves: ND (Forrest Karr) 4-4-11/19; FSU (Vince Owen) 9-9-12/30.
Power Plays: ND 1 for 3, FSU 2 for 7.
Penalties: ND 8 for 16:00, FSU 4 for 8:00.