Notre Dame Hockey: Irish Get it Done 4-1 Against Holy Cross

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish closed out the series against the Holy Cross Crusaders in South Bend Friday with a 4-1 win. A second period burst locked it in for the Irish as both teams dealt with missed power play opportunities and some on-ice tiffs.

First Period

Though they started to play a more reserved game than they did during their first period performance on Thursday, the Irish took control early, and by the end of the period won 14 face-offs to nearly triple the Crusaders’ 4.

Soon after the period reached its halfway point, a call for too many men on the ice on Holy Cross provided the first Notre Dame power play of the night, but the Irish failed to capitalize on the opportunity. A penalty on Notre Dame’s Graham Slaggert for interference soon followed, but it wasn’t enough for the Crusaders to snatch the first goal of the game.

Fans saw the tension rise and the two squads get into a few scraps as the clock ran down on the first period of play.

Though the game remained scoreless heading into the second, the Crusaders eventually caught up to the Irish offense; the teams matched with 8 shots each.

Second Period

The added sense of urgency carried over into the second period. A goaltender interference penalty on Notre Dame’s Justin Janicke early in the second provided a chance for the Crusaders to snap the 0-0 standing, but it was Notre Dame’s Solag Bakich who got the first point of the night on the board. He snatched a goal with less than four minutes left in the period.

Just over two minutes later, Irish forward Jack Adams scored his first goal of the season to double the lead. Less than one minute after that, Notre Dame’s Max Ellis found the back of the net to close out the period 3-0, Irish. By the end of the second, the Irish more than tripled The Crusaders’ five shots with 18 of their own.

Third Period

After a string of penalties failed to shift what Notre Dame started, Notre Dame’s Ryder Rolston later snatched a goal to add to the Irish lead and bring the score to 4-0. Less than two minutes later, Grayson Constable of Holy Cross snatched his team’s first goal of the game. Officials reviewed the goal for possible goaltender interference and the score stood at 4-1, Irish. Holy Cross then sent two more to the box, but it wasn’t enough to alter the scoreboard any more Friday night and the Irish had the 4-1 W.

Game Summary

Scoring

Notre Dame: Solag Bakich at 16:20 in the 2nd with an assist from Adam Karashik

Notre Dame: Jack Adams at 18:27 in the 2nd with assists from Jake Boltmann and Justin Janicke

Notre Dame: Max Ellis at 19:18.4 in the 2nd with an assist from Solag Bakich

Notre Dame: Ryder Rolston at 13:27 in the 3rd with an assist from Cam Burke

Holy Cross: Grayson Constable at 15:12 in the 3rd with assists from Jack Ricketts and Ryan Leibold

Penalties

Holy Cross: TEAM, too many men on the ice at 10:17 in the 1st

Notre Dame: Graham Slaggert for interference at 13:48 in the 1st

Notre Dame: Justin Janicke for goaltender interference at 02:30 in the 2nd

Notre Dame: TEAM, unsportsmanlike conduct 03:53 in the 3rd

Holy Cross: Matt Guerra for hooking at 03:59 in the 3rd

Holy Cross: Matt Guerra for tripping at 07:03 in the 3rd

Holy Cross: Ryan Leibold for tripping at 16:08 in the 3rd

Holy Cross: Matt Guerra for slashing at 18:59 in the 3rd

Goalies

Notre Dame: Matthew Galajda, 25 saves

Holy Cross: Thomas Gale, 23 saves, Erik Gordon, 6 saves

Moving Forward

The Irish will take on the Wisconsin Badgers in South Bend on Friday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. Watch the game on TV on NBCSN or stream online with nbcsports.com or the NBC Sports app.

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