SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Max Ellis scored just 31 seconds into the contest and Jake Boltmann and Graham Slaggert added additional first period tallies as Notre Dame built a 3-0 lead over Holy Cross en route to an eventual 5-2 win on Thursday night at the Compton Family Ice Arena (2,480).
Slaggert finished with a career-high two goals for Notre Dame (5-3-0), Jake Boltmann scored his first career goal and added an assist, while Max Ellis and Jesse Lansdell each registered a goal and an assist.
In net, Matthew Galajda made 20 saves to earn the win, which was the 64th of his career and fourth of the season. Holy Cross (1-6-1) goaltender Matt Radomsky finished with 22 saves.
How It Happened
Max Ellis gave the Irish a 1-0 lead just 31 seconds into the game when he wristed home a rebound he gathered at the far post for his fourth goal of the season, with the assists going to Jake Boltmann and Jesse Lansdell.
Justin Janicke kept a puck alive in front following a Hunter Strand drive to the net and then Spencer Stastney picked it up in the low slot. With Holy Cross goaltender Matt Radomsky down and out, Stastney slid it over to Jake Boltmann who found the back of the net for his first career goal at 9:16 of the first.
At the back post, Graham Slaggert redirected a Chase Blackmun feed into an open net for his third goal of the season at 17:16 of the first period. Nick Leiveramann also assisted on the play as the Irish held the 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Notre Dame finished off the final 1:00 of a penalty kill to start the second period – ist 30th straight penalty kill to start the year.
Holy Cross’ Mike Higgins flipped a shot past Galajda just as a Notre Dame penalty was set to expire to make it a 3-1 game at 6:07 of the second and snap the penalty kill streak at 30.
Just 1:15 into the third, Graham Slaggert tipped in his second goal of the game, with the assists going to Landon Slaggert and Trevor Janicke.
Jesse Lansdell scored an empty-netter at 17:23 to secure the Irish victory. The junior picked up his first goal of the 2021-22 campaign off assists from Ellis and Solag Bakich.
Notes
- Notre Dame killed off the two three Holy Cross power plays of the night to move to before the Crusaders were able to score with one second left on a power-play chance to snap that Irish streak at 30..
- Jake Boltmann scored his first career goal and added an assist for his first career multipoint game.
- With two goals tonight, Graham Slaggert earned his first career multi-goal game and his eighth career multi-point game.
Next Up
- The Irish and Crusaders close out their two-game series at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5 at the Compton Family Ice Arena (tickets).
- Friday’s game will be available via NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, NBC Sports Chicago Plus and NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus.
- Next weekend, Notre Dame plays its first home Big Ten games of the season, welcoming Wisconsin on Nov. 12 (7:30 p.m.) and Nov. 13 (6 p.m.).
- Friday’s game against the Badgers will be on NBCSN, while Saturday’s contest will be on NBC Sports Chicago (both games will be available on the NBC Sports App/NBCSports.com).
— ND —