NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Bobby Nardella scored for the Irish, but top-ranked Notre Dame (3-2-1) fell 3-1 to No. 2/3 Minnesota Duluth Saturday night at the Compton Family Ice Arena (4,416).
Each team earned a power play in the first 10 minutes of play, but neither could capitalize to open the game’s scoring. The Bulldogs broke through with an unassisted goal from Kobe Roth from the right circle with 8:27 remaining in the first period. The Irish put four shots on goal during an abbreviated 4-on-3 power play late in the first frame, but failed to net the equalizer before the first intermission.
Duluth doubled its lead 2:17 into the second period on a goal by Noah Cates. The Irish failed to cash in on a pair of power plays in the closing minutes of the second, including 1:35 of a five-on-three advantage, as the Bulldogs maintained the two-goal lead after 40 minutes.
The Irish answered in the third period with a goal from Nardella to cut the deficit to make it a one-goal game. With 8:55 remaining in regulation, Duluth regained the two-goal lead with a power play goal from Jackson Cates.
Irish goaltender Cale Morris saved 20 of 23 shots faced as the Irish outshot Minnesota Duluth 28-23. Hunter Shepard notched 27 saves for the Bulldogs.
The Irish went 0-for-7 on the power play and held Minnesota Duluth to a 1-for-3 mark on the one-man advantage.
Next up, No. 1/2 Notre Dame will host No. 4/4 Ohio State next Friday and Saturday (Nov. 2-3) at the Compton Family Ice Arena. Both contests are slated for 7:30 p.m. For tickets, click here.
NOTRE DAME GOAL DESCRIPTION
2-1 | Notre Dame halved the Bulldogs’ lead 4:43 into the third period on Nardella’s tally. Cal Burke dropped a pass back for Nardella, who fired a slap shot from the left circle for the score. It was the fourth goal of the season for Nardella, who leads the Irish with 11 points. Jack Jenkins also posted an assist on the Irish goal.
NOTES
The Fighting Irish are in the midst of three consecutive weekend series against last season’s Frozen Four teams, including No. 2/3 Minnesota Duluth, No. 4/4 Ohio State and No. 12/12 Michigan.— ND —