Notre Dame Hockey Beats Wisconsin in Overtime

After suffering their first official loss of the season on Friday night, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hockey team returned to the ice Saturday to finish their series against the Wisconsin Badgers. Notre Dame lost several early leads and fell behind in the 3rd period before tying the game late to force overtime. Two minutes into the overtime period Alex Steeves netted the game winner for the Irish to split the series.

First Period

Notre Dame jumped out to an early lead just 34 seconds into the game. An initial shot from Jesse Lansdell was saved, but a scrum followed with the puck loose in the crease before Trevor Janicke managed to lift it into the net. After Wisconsin tied the game a few minutes later, Notre Dame took the lead back with another loose puck scrum at the top of the crease. This time it was Cam Burke who scored for the Irish. The lead didn’t last long though as Wisconsin tied the game just two minutes later and that’s how the first period ended.

Second Period

Just four minutes into the second period Notre Dame grabbed their third lead of the game. Off an offensive zone faceoff, the puck made its way to Nick Leivermann at the point. He fired a shot from the point that was deflected by Jesse Lansdell into the net for his first career goal. That was all the offense in the second and Notre Dame took their lead into the third.

Third Period

In the third period it was Wisconsin’s turn to score early as they tied the game again just 31 seconds into the period. At the midway point Wisconsin scored again for their first lead of the game, but Notre Dame wasn’t done yet. After forcing a turnover in the offensive zone, Alex Steeves had a clear shot that was saved, but the rebound forced another scrum and Colin Theisen put the loose puck into the net to tie the game. That proved the to be the goal that would force overtime.

Overtime

In overtime, Wisconsin had a golden chance to end the game early. Cole Caufield had a breakaway that was saved by Cale Morris. The puck trickled behind Morris and was cleared off the goal line by Nate Clurman. Following that save, Notre Dame took control of the puck in the offensive zone. Eventually Alex Steeves fired a shot from the top of the zone that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net for the game winner.

Scoring

Notre Dame: Trevor Janicke (5) at 0:34 in the 1st, assisted by Jesse Lansdell and Nate Clurman

Wisconsin: Dylan Holloway (2) at 6:37 in the 1st, assisted by Linus Weissbach and Owen Lindmark

Notre Dame: Cam Burke (2) at 11:17 in the 1st, assisted by Matt Steeves and Nate Clurman

Wisconsin: Linus Weissbach (3) at 13:06 in the 1st, assisted by Sean Dhooghe

Notre Dame: Jesse Lansdell (1) at 3:49 in the 2nd, assisted by Nick Leivermann and Jake Pivonka

Wisconsin: Wyatt Kalynuk (2) at 0:31 in the 3rd, assisted by Cole Caufield and Ty Emberson

Wisconsin: K’Andre Miller (4) on the PP at 10:57 in the 3rd, assisted by Cole Caufield and Dylan Holloway

Notre Dame: Colin Theisen (4) at 13:36 in the 3rd, assisted by Alex Steeves and Graham Slaggert

Notre Dame: Alex Steeves (2) at 1:58 in OT, assisted by Tory Dello and Colin Theisen

Penalties

Notre Dame: Graham Slaggert, 2 for roughing at 1:58 in the 1st

Wisconsin: Jack Gorniak, 2 for roughing at 1:58 in the 1st

Notre Dame: Mike O’Leary, 2 for hooking at 15:08 in the 1st

Wisconsin: Mick Messner, 2 for hooking at 18:00 in the 1st

Notre Dame: Nick Leivermann, 2 for cross checking at 18:43 in the 1st

Wisconsin: Alex Turcotte, 2 for slashing at 5:46 in the 3rd

Notre Dame: BENCH, 2 for too many players at 10:13 in the 3rd

Goalies

Notre Dame: Cale Morris made 31 saves on 35 shots, including some big saves on breakaways late, for the win

Wisconsin: Daniel Lebedeff made 31 saves on 36 shots in the loss

Up Next

Notre Dame travels to East Lansing to face the Michigan State Spartans in their second consecutive conference road series.