Nov. 13, 1999
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame hockey team shook off its offensive struggles with a decisive three-goal third period, propelling the Irish to a 3-2 victory and a weekend sweep of visiting Alaska Fairbanks, in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action Saturday at the Joyce Center Fieldhouse.
Notre Dame (4-6-2, 3-5-2 CCHA) awoke behind a pair of power-play goals and timely contributions from several players, highlighted by sophomore center Brett Henning’s game-tying goal and game-winning assist. Senior left wing Andy Jurkowski again played a key role with the primary assist on the first Irish goal (scored by junior right wing Ryan Dolder) while freshman defenseman Evan Nielsen scored the game-winner with 3:53 left to play, cashing in on the power play for his first career goal with the Irish (Nielsen also had the primary assist on Henning’s goal).
Senior right wing Joe Dusbabek added assists on the final two Irish goals while senior defenseman Tyson Fraser helped set up the first Notre Dame score.
Alaska Fairbanks (3-9-0, 2-8-0 CCHA) staked a 2-0 lead behind a first-period goal from junior right wing Ryan Reinheller and a power-play score in the second period from sophomore defenseman Daniel Carriere. UAF freshman goaltender Lance Mayes saved all 21 Notre Dame shots during the first two periods but could not stop the Irish charge in the final period.
The Irish totaled 11 shots on goal and three power-play chances in the decisive period while holding the Nanooks to just three shots and no power-play chances. Irish freshman Tony Zasowski finished with 21 saves, giving him 40 stops and just two goals allowed in the series.
Notre Dame owns six straight victories over UAF and has won eight of the last nine games in the series.
The Irish jumped back into the game early in the third period, on Dolder’s second goal of the season. Fraser set up the goal with a shot from the left point and Jurkowski sent back the rebound from the left side of the crease. Jurkowski raised his arms thinking that he had scored but the puck squirted back to the slot, with Dolder scooping the puck into the open net (4:05).
Notre Dame netted the equalizer with 10 minutes left to play, as Henning converted on the power play for his third goal of the season. Dusbabek set the play in motion on a pass from the left side, with Nielsen then drilling a shot from the right point. Henning was stationed at the top of the crease and tipped Nielsen’s shot over Mayes’ stick into the left side of the net for a 2-2 game (10:08).
The winning goal came 25 seconds into a holding penalty on UAF senior left wing Sjon Wynia. Dusbabek worked the puck down the left side and played it to Henning, who skated toward Mayes before ducking behind the UAF goal. Henning emerged on the far side and slid a perfect pass to Nielsen, who quickly fired a low shot from the bottom of the right circle inside the far left post (16:07).
UAF junior left wing Pat Hallett initiated the first goal of the night, after sending a pass from the right boards. Freshman center Casey Bartzen then let go a shot from the right circle and the rebound kicked to Reinheller, who quickly lifted a shot from the edge of the left circle that beat Zasowski to the stick side (7:25).
UAF added to its lead with a power-play goal in the second period. Passes from Wynia and senior right wing Kevin McNeill set up Carriere at the top of the right circle and the sophomore defenseman delivered his team-leading fifth goal of the season, sending a low shot past Zasowski’s right skate and inside the far left post (13:01).
Notes: Jurkwoski has points in six of the last seven games (4G-2A) while his six points this season (in 12 games) equal his total from the previous three seasons combined (2G-4A in 70 games) … Notre Dame picked up its first win this season in the second game of a CCHA series (0-3-1 previously) … Henning (3G-4A) and Dusbabek (2G-5A) now share the team scoring lead with junior left wing Dan Carlson (2G-5A) and freshman center Connor Dunlop (1G-6A) … Henning joined Jurkowski (4) and sophomore left wing David Inman (6) as the only Irish players with three-plus goals this season … the Irish have scored power-play goals in nine of 12 games this season while 12 of the team’s 27 goals have come on the power play … Saturday’s game marked the first time this season that a PPG had provided the winning margin for the Irish (Notre Dame has lost four games due to opponent PPGs this season) … the Irish are 17-5-4 in their last 26 regular-season home games.
NOTRE DAME (4-6-2, 3-5-2 CCHA) 0 0 3 - 3ALASKA FAIRBANKS (3-9-0, 2-8-0 CCHA) 1 1 0 - 2
1st: UAF 1. Reinheller 2 (Bartzen, Hallett) 7:25.
2nd: UAF 2. Carriere 5 (McNeill, Wynia), PP, 13:01.
3rd: ND 1. Dolder 2 (Jurkowski, Fraser) 4:05, ND 2. Henning 3 (Nielsen, Dusbabek), PP, 10:08, ND 3. Nielsen 1 (Henning, Dusbabek) 16:07.
Shots: UAF 8-12-3/23, ND 13-8-11/32.
Saves: UAF (Lance Mayes) 13-8-8/29, ND (Tony Zasowski) 7-11-3/21.
Power Play: UAF 1-for-6, ND 2-for-8.
Penalties: UAF 8 for 16:00, ND 6 for 12:00.