Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Coach Jackson Postgame | Highlights
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Notre Dame hockey team returned from its bye week to skate to a 3-3 overtime tie with Minnesota before the visitors took the extra point in the Big Ten standings thanks to a shootout victory at a sold-out Compton Family Ice Arena (4,854).
Colin Theisen, Nick Leivermann and Cam Morrison scored for the Fighting Irish (12-11-6, 7-7-4-3 B1G). Cale Morris made 31 saves in the effort.
Minnesota (13-11-5, 8-6-5-4 B1G) got first-period goals from Scott Reedy and Blake McLaughlin, before Sammy Walker scored the third Gopher goal to tie the game at 10:13 of the third. Jack LaFontaine made 39 saves in the contest.
Notre Dame managed the lone power-play goal of the game, scoring on one of two chances, while the Irish successfully killed all four extra-man opportunities by Minnesota.
How It Happened
The visitors struck quickly, with Reedy scoring his 15th of the season just 28 seconds into the contest on a feed from Blake McLaughlin. It was the Gophers again at 13:00 of the first to make it 2-0, this time McLaughlin scoring from Walker and Reedy.
It wasn’t 2-0 for long, as the Irish scored 96 seconds later to cut the deficit in half. Tory Dello played a puck from the Notre Dame defensive zone up to Mike O’Leary, who skated into the attacking zone and crashed the net, finding Theisen in front who hammered it home for his seventh of the year.
Trevor Janicke had two good chances at the far post near the end of the opening period while the Irish were on the power play but LaFontaine made the stops with his left pad.
Just over three minutes into the second, sophomore defenseman Nick Leivermann tied the game with a low snapshot as he skated in from the point, with the assists going to Cam Burke and Matt Hellickson. It marked Leivermann’s fifth career goal, four of which have come against the Gophers.
Theisen created Notre Dame’s next best chance when he spun around a and found O’Leary in the slot on a 2-on-1, but the senior drive was fought off to keep it a 2-2 game midway through the second.
After a myriad of Notre Dame chances, including O’Leary from the doorstep, Minnesota tied it up at 10:13 of the third when Semmy Walker’s shot through a screen eluded Morris.
While the remainder of the game did not see a goal, it was not without drama. Michael Graham nearly scored with roughly six minutes to play, sending a pass from Alex Steeves off the post. Notre Dame then killed a penalty called with 2:26 to play in regulation.
Nate Clurman had the best opportunity during the 5-on-5 overtime session, but LaFontaine was up to the task with a glove save.
Morrison and Graham each had chances to secure the extra point for the Irish during the 3-on-3 session, while Minnesota’s Reedy had a penalty shot forced wide by Morris.
Minnesota then secured the extra point when Brannon McManus’ shootout attempt bounced off the crossbar and then off Morris’ back and over the goal line.
Up Next
- Notre Dame and Minnesota close out their regular-season series at 6 p.m. on Saturday night in a game that will be televised on NBC Sports Chicago+ and NBC Sports Philadelphia+.
- Ticket information.
- Saturday’s contest against the Gophers is the annual Irish Wear Green game for the fans and free green t-shirts & pom poms will be distributed while supplies last.
- Additionally, the team will wear commemorative jerseys as the program raises awareness for the 525 Foundation.
- The jerseys will be auctioned to benefit the foundation.
Notes
- With an assist, Cal Burke extended his point streak to five games (3-2-5).
- With a goal, Cam Morrison moved his point streak to four games (2-2-4).
- With an assist on his birthday, Tory Dello established a two-game point streak (1-2-3).
- With an assist, Spencer Stastney established a two-game point streak (0-2-2).
- Nick Leivermann scored his fifth-career goal, four of which have come against the Gophers.
- Notre Dame is now 2-0-6 in overtime this season.