NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Irish hockey program completed the weekend sweep of the Badgers with a 3-1 victory in front of a sold out barn Saturday night.
Notre Dame went to the powerplay early in the first period as the Badgers were whistled for a slash at 4:42 but the visitors successfully killed it off and the game remained scoreless.
Wisconsin was called for yet another penalty halfway through the contest and, stifling a shorthanded chance at the other end of the ice, Landon Slaggert lit the lamp with a tip-in out front to give ND the 1-0 lead at 12:10 of the opening period.
The Badgers were whistled for a major penalty with 2:37 to play in the first and the Irish powerplay unit went back to work to end the period. Notre Dame was whistled for goaltender interference after a forward out front was pushed into the crease and collided with the Badgers’ netminder with 20 seconds to play in the first.
The two teams started the second period four-on-four but both were able to kill off their respective penalties and returned to full strength with the Irish still up, 1-0.
Notre Dame was whistled for handling the puck just across the blue line partway through the second stanza but killed their second penalty of the night to hold the one-goal lead halfway through the contest.
The Irish took advantage of another powerplay opportunity midway through the second when Hunter Strand buried a rebound to make it 2-0. Notre Dame continued to press the Badger end late in the second frame but could not break Jared Moe in goal again and skated to the locker room up by two after two periods.
The Badgers were called for elbowing at 4:31 of the third period. It took the Irish just six seconds to capitalize on the man advantage as Chayse Primeau won the draw and sent it back to Nick Leivermann at the point. The captain then found Chase Blackmun at the top of the circle who buried a shot for his second goal of the year, making it 3-0 at 4:37 of the final period.
The Irish held the 3-0 lead until late in the final period but a penalty against the home team made the Badgers confident to pull their goaltender for the two-man advantage. The visitors capitalized on the powerplay to snap Bischel’s shutout bid with 5:14 left in regulation.
The Badgers would take two penalties shortly after, including a five-minute major, as the Irish would end the contest on the powerplay. Despite multiple shots on net on the five-on-three chance, the Irish were unable to extend the lead as they ended the night with the 3-1 score and weekend sweep.
With the win, the Irish improve to 13-12-3 on the season and are 8-8-2 in Big Ten play.
GOALS
- Landon Slaggert struck first, giving the Irish the 1-0 lead after getting the deflection out front from Nick Leivermann’s shot at the point. Ryder Rolston recorded his team-leading 20th point with the second assist on the play.
- Hunter Strand capitalized on a net front scramble, giving the Irish the 2-0 lead with 7:46 left in the second period. The powerplay goal was the team’s second of the night and came following a series of shots out front, causing the Badger netminder to lose his positioning and open the net for Strand to take advantage and extend the Irish lead. Jesse Lansdell and Drew Bavaro were both credited with assists on the play.
- Notre Dame capitalized on the powerplay for the third time Saturday night when Chase Blackmun buried the puck just six seconds into the man-advantage early in the third period. As a Badger looked on from the box following a holding call, Chayse Primeau won the faceoff and got the puck back to Nick Leivermann who found an open Blackmun for the 3-0 tally.
KEY STATS
- With an assist on Landon Slaggert’s goal to start the night, Ryder Rolston became the first Irish skater to surpass 20 points this season.
- Ryan Bischel recorded 28 saves on the night, finishing the weekend sweep in net with 55 saves on 59 shots faced.
- Nick Leivermann’s two assists led the team in both assists and points in his second game back.
- The Irish scored all three goals on the powerplay Saturday night.
- The Irish and Badgers each fired 29 shots on goal in the contest, while ND blocked an additional nine.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back on the road next weekend as they head to East Lansing, Michigan for a two game series with the Michigan State Spartans.
Puck drop on Friday, Feb. 3, is set for 7 p.m. on B1G+ before a 4 p.m. start the following evening on the Big Ten Network.