NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The 13th-ranked Fighting Irish topped No. 17 Western Michigan, 2-0, to open their home-and-home series with the Broncos Friday night and pick up their first shutout of the season. The Irish defense buckled down in the victory, blocking 13 shots in the contest while Ryan Bischel made 30 saves between the pipes for his third career shutout.
The two teams came out firing in the opening period, with the Irish outshooting the Broncos, 14-4, through 20 minutes of play, despite the 0-0 score.
Although outshot in the second stanza, 15-10, the Irish broke the scoring open with a pair of goals from Nick Leivermann and Justin Janicke to skate to the third period up 2-0.
A handful of penalties highlighted the final period of regulation but neither team was able to capitalize on the man-advantage as the Irish claimed the 2-0 final and improved to 3-1-1 on the season.
GOALS
- In his first game of the season, captain Nick Leivermann opened the scoring for ND, firing a shot top shelf from the point for the go-ahead goal. Chayse Primeau fired the initial shot before Trevor Janicke collected the rebound deep along the boards. The alternate captain found Leivermann at the point who ripped a shot into the back of the net.
- The Irish extended their lead late in the second period when Zach Plucinski fired a shot on net from the blueline. Chayse Primeau knocked the rebound out of the air where Justin Janicke beat a scrambling netminder in the crease.
KEY STATS
- The Irish are now undefeated in their last six meetings with the Broncos, 4-0-2, and own a 6-2-2 record in their last 10.
- The Irish outshot the Broncos by a narrow 32-30 margin in the contest, with both netminders registering 30 saves in the contest.
- Bischel’s performance in net was his third career shutout and first of the season as he improved to 3-1-0 on the year.
- Chayse Primeau’s two assists on the night led the team and was his second multi-point night at Notre Dame. The graduate student now boasts five points on the season (1-4-5) and four assists in his last two games.
- Ryder Rolston fired six shots on net for a team-best, followed by Zach Plucinski with four.
- At the blueline, four individuals blocked two shots including Ben Brinkman, Jake Boltmann, Hunter Strand and Ryan Helliwell.
UP NEXT
The Irish and Broncos conclude their season series Saturday night in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Puck drop inside Lawson Ice Arena is set for 6 p.m. and will be streamed on NCHC.tv.