Notre Dame Hockey Sweeps Weekend Series at Michigan State

The past few weeks haven’t been the greatest stretch for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish hockey team, as three straight series against ranked opponents have left the team just 2-4 in their last 6 games. They still sit at #8 in the polls though, and traveled to East Lansing for a conference matchup with the Michigan State Spartans this past weekend.

Game 1

Notre Dame jumped on the board first early Friday night, when Joe Wegwerth scored just 2:13 into the first period. Cam Burke doubled the Irish lead midway through the second period when he scored the first goal of his career.

In the third period, Michigan State began to make a game of things. The Spartans cut the Irish lead in half midway through the period. With 2:15 remaining, Notre Dame was whistled for a penalty, and with the Michigan State goalie pulled later on, the Irish needed to kill 37 seconds of 6-on-4. They did, and with 4 seconds left in the game Graham Slaggert scored an empty net goal for the first goal of his career and a 3-1 Irish win.

Scoring

ND - Joe Wegwerth (7) at 2:13 in the 1st, assisted by Bobby Nardella and Michael Graham.

ND - Cam Burke (1) at 12:07 in the 2nd, unassisted.

MSU - Patrick Khodorenko (6) at 9:45 in the 3rd, assisted by Dennis Cesana and Mitchell Lewandowski.

ND - Graham Slaggert (1) at 19:56 in the 3rd, assisted by Alex Steeves and Andrew Peeke.

Goalies

ND - Cale Morris saved 27 of 28 shots faced for the win.

MSU - Drew DeRidder saved 18 of 20 shots faced in the loss.

Penalties

ND - Graham Slaggert, 2 for hooking at 7:57 in the 1st.

MSU - Dennis Cesana, 2 for interference at 9:08 in the 1st.

MSU - Brenna Sanford, 2 for slashing at 14:43 in the 1st.

MSU - Tommy Miller, 2 for holding the stick at 12:07 in the 2nd.

ND - BENCH, 2 for too many men at 13:28 in the 2nd.

MSU - Tommy Apap, 2 for interference at 7:13 in the 3rd.

ND - Alex Steeves, 2 for holding at 17:45 in the 3rd.

Game 2

Michigan State opened the scoring on Saturday night, when Patrick Khodorenko scored just after Notre Dame killed off a penalty early in the 2nd period. Notre Dame battled back in the second period and took a 2-1 lead with goals from Colin Theisen and Cal Burke. That would be the final score as neither team scored in the 3rd period.

Scoring

MSU - Patrick Khodorenko (7) at 3:47 in the 2nd, assisted by Taro Hirose and Cody Milan.

ND - Colin Theisen (4) at 7:34 in the 2nd, assisted by Jake Pivonka and Bobby Nardella.

ND - Cal Burke (7) on the PP at 14:55 in the 2nd, assisted by Dylan Malmquist and Andrew Peeke.

Goalies

ND - Cale Morris stopped 28 of 29 shots for the win.

MSU - John Lethemon made 20 saves on 22 shots in the loss.

Penalties

ND - Michael Graham, 2 for hooking at 4:37 in the 1st.

ND - Cam Burke, 2 for boarding at 15:28 in the 1st.

MSU - Tommy Apap, 2 for holding at 18:16 in the 1st.

ND - Michael Graham, 2 for tripping at 1:40 in the 2nd.

MSU - Patrick Khodorenko, 2 for cross-checking at 13:50 in the 2nd.

ND - Graham Slaggert, 2 for slashing at 18:46 in the 3rd.

Up Next

Notre Dame plays three non-conference home games back at Compton Family Ice Arena next week, the first of which is a Tuesday matchup against the Northern Michigan Wildcats.