ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 20/19 University of Notre Dame hockey team defeated No. 4/4 Michigan, 2-1, Saturday night in overtime to clinch the fourth-seed in the Big Ten Tournament and home ice for the first round. The two teams battled hard in the regular season finale, with Ryan Bischel turning aside 48 shots to secure the overtime thriller. Drew Bavaro scored both goals for the Irish in the 2-1 victory, earning player of the game honors from his teammates.
The officials whistled their fifth interference call of the weekend as the Irish headed to the penalty kill early in the first period. The visitors successfully killed off the penalty just under 10 minutes into the contest before both sides were called for crosschecking coincidentals shortly after.
A series of crosschecking calls ensued with the Irish and Wolverines each getting a second powerplay opportunity but neither side could capitalize as it returned to five-on-five hockey.
Michigan’s Adam Fantilli hit an unsuspecting Irish defenseman in their end and was served a five minute major and removed from the game. The Irish had 48 seconds on the powerplay to end the period, nearly capitalizing as the horn sounded, but the two teams skated to the first intermission in a 0-0 stalemate.
The remaining Michigan major was negated early in the second stanza when the Irish were called for interference at 2:30 of the period.
With shots even partway through the second period, both teams continued to search for the opening goal but Bischel and Michigan’s netminder stood tall on either end, casting aside all 11 shots faced a piece.
The two netminders continued to impress through the middle frame as the Irish and Wolverines went to their respective locker rooms still scoreless at the second intermission.
Michigan was whistled early in the third period and the Irish controlled possession through the entirety of the penalty. With five seconds left on the man-advantage, Drew Bavaro buried a shot from the point to break the stalemate.
After turning aside 31 shots on the night, one beat Bischel with 10:01 to play to knot things up 1-1.
The Irish had three shots shortly after trickle just wide of the net as Landon Slaggert, Chayse Primeau and Chase Blackmun each had a chance at the net. After the Wolverines cleared the zone Tyler Carpenter created an odd-man rush back into the offensive end but his shot ricocheted off the post as play continued with the scoreboard flashing 1-1.
Despite near chances in the final seconds of regulation, the Irish were unable to break the tie game and a third-straight ND game was set to be determined in extra time.
Notre Dame dominated the overtime session, not allowing the Wolverines a single shot on goal before Bavaro buried his own rebound to improve his team to 15-14-5 on the season.
GOALS
- Drew Bavaro’s shot from the point was his third point of the weekend series and came at 3:35 of the third to give ND the 1-0 lead. With five seconds left on the man-advantage, Grant Silianoff fed a pass across the blueline to Bavaro at the point. His one-timer beat Portillo in the Michigan net for the first goal of the night. Trevor Janicke also tallied an assist on the play, setting up Silianoff along the boards.
- Bavaro rounded out his record weekend with the Irish, netting the game-winning goal just 1:30 into the overtime frame. In the Irish end, Hunter Strand found the blueliner racing up ice and into the offensive zone. The junior fired a shot off before gathering his own rebound and attempting a second shot. The third time was the charm for Bavaro as his second shot bounced off the pads of Portillo and back onto Bavaro’s stick who lifted the puck into the open net for the game-winning tally.
KEY STATS
- Ryan Bischel recorded 26 saves in the third period alone to lift his team to the overtime victory. The senior netminder finished the night with 48 saves in 61:30 minutes played.
- Drew Bavaro’s two-goal night ties his career high with the Irish, having previously recorded a multi-goal night at Wisconsin in early January.
- With seven shots on goal, including three in the overtime period, Bavaro led the team in the category. The two-way blueliner also led the team in blocked shots, jumping in front of four pucks in Saturday night’s win.
- With four points on the weekend, Bavaro led the team and now boasts 18 points on the season off six goals and 12 assists.
- The Irish completed the weekend with four points behind shootout and overtime victories, extending their undefeated regular season record inside Yost Ice Arena to nine games, 8-0-1.
UP NEXT
The Irish will return to Compton Family Ice Arena March 3-5, having secured home ice in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament with their overtime winner Saturday night. With four points on the weekend at Michigan, the Irish secured the fourth seed in the conference playoffs and will host Michigan State in a best-of-three series next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday if necessary.
Puck drop for Friday is set for 7 p.m. before a 4:30 p.m. start the following night. If necessary, Sunday’s contest will get underway at 6 p.m.
All ND vs. MSU games next weekend will be broadcast on FS2.
Tickets for next weekend’s quarterfinal matchup can be purchased here.