MADISON, Wis. – The University of Notre Dame hockey program bounced back on night two with the Badgers, claiming a 6-4 victory for the weekend split.
The Irish came out buzzing, eager to put game one behind them and reset. This proved to be the case less than 90 seconds in when Nick Leivermann ripped a shot off from the top of the slot that hit the crossbar and deflected out. Although unable to capitalize on the shot, the Irish drew a hooking call on the rebound and the team saw its first powerplay opportunity of the night.
Fellow defenseman Drew Bavaro got the scoring started for the visiting Irish shortly after an unsuccessful powerplay. The junior blueliner net his third of the season at 5:32 of the opening period to give ND the 1-0 lead.
Trevor Janicke extended the lead just a few minutes later, finding the back of the net less than nine minutes in. The senior had another chance shortly after, catching the puck in the neutral zone and racing up ice shorthanded but was tangled up and a Wisconsin penalty was called. The Irish opted for the penalty shot but T. Janicke’s attempt was denied and it remained 2-0.
At 14:32 of the first, Bavaro net his second of the evening for his first mutli-goal game with the Irish, and second of his career.
The Irish rounded out their first period scoring with a powerplay tally from Jesse Lansdell at 18:26 of the frame to carry the 4-0 lead into the locker room at the first intermission.
After allowing four goals off 17 shots in the first, the Badgers made a change in net to start the second period.
With an assist in the first period, Jack Adams added to the Irish tally in the second with a goal at 18:26 to make it 5-0 through two periods of play.
With 13 saves through 40 minutes, Bischel’s shutout bid came to a halt at 1:13 of the third period. The Irish tripped up a Badger off the faceoff in the offenzive zone and headed to the box just 49 seconds into the period. A shot beat Bischel above the glove shortly after to get them on the board.
The Badgers net their second powerplay goal of the night with 10:32 of the third period after the Irish were sent off for interference.
Wisconsin would net two more goals on the man-advantage after the Irish were assessed a major with 5:17 to play in the game. In addition to the Badgers’ two tallies, the elder Janicke scored his second of the game, shorthanded, for the 6-4 final.
GOALS
- Hunter Strand won the offensive zone faceoff five minutes into the opening period, sending it back to Ryder Rolston who found an open Drew Bavaro at the point. The junior defenseman net his third with the Irish after gathering the puck and firing a wrist shot from the top of the circle into the back of the net.
- Trevor Janicke extended the Irish lead minutes later with a one-timer from the far face-off dot. Bavaro recorded the primary assist on the play, while Grant Silianoff had the second.
- Bavaro tallied his third point of the night, and recorded his first multi-goal performance with the Irish with a goal nearly identical to his first. Jack Adams won the puck battle along the boards deep in the offensive end and cleared it out the blue line where Ben Brinkman gathered the pass and set Bavaro up at the opposite end for the 3-0 lead.
- Jesse Lansdell rounded out the first period scoring with a powerplay tally late in the period. With mere seconds left on the man-advantage, the senior gathered T. Janicke’s rebound inside the crease and tapped it home for the 4-0 score. Hunter Strand also recorded an assist on the play, his second of the night.
- Jack Adams tapped a loose puck through the five hole of the Wisconsin netminder to make it a 5-0 game. Lansdell’s shot ricocheted back out front where the Irish regained possession and continued to batter the puck towards the crease. Fin Williams recorded the secondary assist on the goal for his second career point.
- The Irish scored shorthanded late in the third period when Trevor Janicke found the back of the net for his second of the night. While working to kill off a major, the alternate captain skated up ice and fired a shot hard on net. Lansdell picked up the lone assist on the goal.
KEY STATS
- With six goals on the night, the Irish tallied their highest goal total of the year and moved to 10-10-2 on the season.
- The Irish fired 17 shots on goal in the opening period, finding the back of the net on four occasions, including two goals from Drew Bavaro.
- After registering 17 shots in the first, the Irish ended the night with 40 shots on goal while blocking 14 shots on the opposite end of the ice.
- Trevor Janicke, with two goals and a plus two on-ice-rating, fired a team high seven shots on net in the victory.
- Chase Blackmun led the team in blocked shots, jumping in front of three shots Saturday night.
- Trevor Janicke and Drew Bavaro each posted two goals in the contest, with each also picking up an assist for a team-best three points. Jesse Lansdell also recorded three points in the contest with a goal and two assists.
UP NEXT
The Irish return home next weekend to host Minnesota, Jan. 13-14, inside the Compton Family Ice Arena with guest DJ, Lee Michaels of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Friday night’s contest is 80’s night and early entrants will receive a green rally towel, while supplies last. The following night is the team’s annual First Responders Night, featuring a ceremonial puck drop with members from the St. Joseph County Police Department.