Notre Dame Can’t Find A Miracle, Loses In Championship Game To Minnesota-Duluth 2-1

It got off to the normal rough start for the Irish. Notre Dame just couldn’t get the shots on goal, and Minnesota-Duluth played fast and aggressive. The Bulldogs went up 2-0 against the best goaltender in the game (Cale Morris), but the second goal was pretty soft off the pipe.

Soft or not, 2-0 is a big hole in the first period.

Things took a big turn in the 2nd period. Notre Dame killed two power plays, and then Andrew Oglevie put the Irish on the board with a goal on their own power play. Notre Dame would have to kill another one before the period was over, and the momentum definitely shifted for the Irish.

That momentum for the Irish faded early in the 3rd period, and about halfway through the Bulldogs were still outshooting the Irish 30-15. Things really started to heat up with about 7 minutes to go as the Irish were putting it all out on the ice - and the Bulldogs weren’t backing down.

With 1:28 to go, Cale Morris took off for the bench, and the Irish played on with an empty net.

Notre Dame still couldn’t get what they needed, and the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs are your 2018 National Champions.

It was a great NCAA Tournament, and a great Frozen Four. The Irish had a fantastic season, but they just couldn’t pull off another miracle after so many in the postseason.