Notre Dame Hockey: Irish Open Conference Play Against Gophers With 2OT Loss

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish hit the road and took on the Minnesota Golden Gophers Saturday, but started Big Ten play by ending their winning streak.

First Period

We saw the two squads size each other up in the first 20 minutes and not much else. Both teams claimed six shots on goal by the end of the period. Though it was a scoreless period, the officials denied what appeared to be a goal from Notre Dame’s Trevor Janicke, and the frustration carried the Irish into the next period.

Second Period

The Irish headed into the second period fired up and ready to get on the board. Early on, Mike O’Leary put the Irish on the board with the first goal of the game. Notre Dame seemed to take over the tone of the game as they upped the aggression on offense.

Third Period

The Gophers truly started to get after it in the last period in regulation. Minnesota’s Nathan Burke tied up the game early in the third. However, Trevor Janicke put the Irish back in the lead fewer than 20 seconds later. Fewer than 20 seconds after that, Minnesota’s Scott Reedy brought the game back to an even footing.

First OT

As the Irish and Gophers headed to five on five hockey, Minnesota surpassed Notre Dame’s one shot on goal with three, but it wasn’t over yet.

Second OT

It was Minnesota’s Sammy Walker who got it done in the last period in overtime to end the game 3-2.

Game Summary

Scoring

Notre Dame: Mike O’Leary at 02:58 in the 2nd with assists from Matt Hellickson and Cal Burke

Minnesota: Nathan Burke at 05:41 in the 3rd with assist from Jack Perbix

Notre Dame: Trevor Janicke at 06:06 in the 3rd with assist from Cam Morrison

Minnesota: Scott Reedy at 06:24 in the 3rd, unassisted

Minnesota: Sammy Walker at 01:37 in the 5th with assists from Blake McLaughlin and Ryan Zuhlsdorf

Penalties

Minnesota: Blake Mclaughlin for tripping at 11:49 in the 1st

Notre Dame: Team for too many men on the ice at 12:59 in the 1st

Minnesota: Sampo Ranta for boarding at 00:53 in the 2nd

Notre Dame: Nick Leivermann for tripping at 07:20 in the 2nd

Notre Dame: Trevor Janicke for slashing at 16:28 in the 2nd

Notre Dame: Matt Hellickson for roughing at 09:59 in the 3rd

Minnesota: Jack Perbix for roughing at 09:59 in the 3rd

Goalies

Notre Dame: Cale Morris with 23 saves

Minnesota: Jared Moe with 31 saves

Moving Forward

The Irish and Gophers will meet again at Minnesota Saturday at 5:00 p.m. ET. To watch the game on television, head to Fox Sports North or stream online with btnplus.com.

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