Nov. 11, 2017
By Dan Colleran
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Bo Brauer scored the game’s only goal and Cale Morris stopped all 33 shots he faced to lead sixth-ranked Notre Dame to a 1-0 win over Big Ten foe Penn State on Saturday evening at the Compton Family Ice Arena (4,160).
It marked the first career shutout for Morris, who helped lead Notre Dame (8-3-1, 4-0-0 B1G) to a fifth consecutive win and a fourth straight victory to open Big Ten play. The sophomore goaltender made several big stops on the night, including a breakaway save on Penn State’s Brandon Biro midway through the second.
For Brauer, it marked his second goal in as many games and his first career game winner.
The other key to the Notre Dame victory was a penalty kill unit that was a perfect 4-for-4 on the night, while holding the Nittany Lions to just two shots on goal.
In the Penn State (5-7-0, 2-4-0 B1G) net, Peyton Jones stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced.
COACH JACKSON’S THOUGHTS
On Cale Morris‘ game …
“Very focused. I could tell in training camp that he had a very serious approach. He paid his dues last year. It’s not easy to do what he did last year, watching a great goaltender like Cal Petersen. I think he probably learned from Cal in a lot of areas but I think he’s got off to a good start. I still have confidence Dylan St. Cyr is going to play a role for us this year as well. What I admire most about what he’s [Cale’s] done in the last four games is shown the ability to close the game down and that is a very important quality in a goaltender. You have a 1-0 lead in the third period and have to make some good saves in the penalty kill, and six on five in the end. He was certainly the difference tonight.”
On the outstanding penalty kill …
“We have a good rhythm with the guys right now. I like the groups of forwards that we’re using. Some guys don’t get as much credit as they probably should, guys like Jack Jenkins and Cal Burke, both do a great job as well as Evans. Oglevie is back now which helps the penalty kill. And both Mike O’Leary and Dawson Cook are becoming valuable assets on the PK.
On Bo Brauer …
“Bo is another guy that has really paid his dues to learn the game without the puck. He really had a problem with that early in his career. Even at times now, every once in awhile he puck stares a little bit too much but he has made an effort and has gotten better. He’s always had the ability to be a power type forward and remember to play big and when he does he makes our cycle and our low game offensively really effective. He’s playing with two smart players which helps him. Both Dawson Cook and Mike O’Leary are really smart players and they’re a big line so they need to play big. The good thing is I’m able to use them against anybody and that is a real positive for us.”
NOTRE DAME GOAL DESCRIPTIONS
1-0 | The Irish scored the only goal of the game at 14:12 of the second period. Dennis Gilbert fired a snapshot from the far left boards at the hashmarks, and Mike O’Leary picked up the rebound and slid the puck to Bo Brauer, who tucked the puck in top shelf over the goalies shoulder.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Irish went 0-for-3 on the power play, but also held Penn State to an 0-for-4 mark.
NOTES
- Jordan Gross skated in the 131st consecutive game of his Irish career (dating back to the first game of his freshman season).
- With a goal in both games against the Nittany Lions over the weekend, senior forward Bo Brauer put together his first career point and goal streak.
- Notre Dame improved to 4-0-1 when tied after one period of play and to 6-1-0 when leading after two periods of play.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Irish close out their nonconference schedule next weekend with a two-game series at RPI. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.
— ND —
Dan Colleran, associate athletics communications director at the University of Notre Dame, has been a part of Fighting Irish Media since August 2015 and coordinates all media and publicity efforts surrounding the Notre Dame hockey and golf programs. A native of Walpole, Massachusetts, Colleran spent the previous three years working with the men’s hockey and soccer programs at Providence College. Colleran also spent two years as an Assistant Executive Director of Communications & Championships at the Ivy League and is a graduate of Providence College (’06 & ’08G).