Feb. 19, 2016
By Dan Colleran
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Seventh-ranked Notre Dame built a 2-0 lead through two periods of play but fifth-ranked Providence College scored late in the third period to force overtime, where it went on to defeat the Irish 3-2 on Friday night at Schneider Arena (3,033).
The game was fast paced right from the start, with goaltenders Cal Petersen and Nick Ellis each having to make big stops in the early going.
Dylan Malmquist staked the Irish to a 1-0 lead at 5:50 of the first period and then Jake Evans notched his eighth goal of the season with just over five minutes to play in the second period for the 2-0 lead.
“I thought we came out strong and did a great job in the first two periods,” Head Coach Jeff Jackson said after the game.
But then Notre Dame faced a barrage of penalty kills in the third period and Brandon Tanev eventually got the Friars on the board with a power-play goal at 13:35.
“I think the penalties changed the momentum of the game,” Jackson said. “They [Providence] play a heavy game and they are tough to handle and I give them credit.”
With 2:23 to play in the third, Brian Pinho scored for Providence to make it a 2-2 game.
After the game-tying goal, Anders Bjork, who finished with a pair of assists, and Steven Fogarty had chances but could not beat Ellis before the end of regulation.
Then at 1:23 of overtime, Trevor Mingoia won it for Providence, knocking home a rebound at the back post after Petersen made a save on an Erik Foley shot.
“We’re a young group and it shows up every once in a while, and it did tonight against a very experienced team,” Jackson concluded.
Petersen, who was tested all night including a left pad save on a Nick Saracino breakaway in the second period, finished with 35 saves on the night.
“[Petersen] played great, it was his normal game for us, giving us a chance to win,” Jackson added.
Nick Ellis totaled 20 saves in the Providence net.
Notre Dame finished 0-for-2 on the power play, while Providence was 1-for-6.
The Irish and Friars will close out their weekend series tomorrow night (Feb. 20) at Schneider Arena (7:05 p.m.).
Goals
— Notre Dame jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 5:50 of the first period when Dylan Malmquist took a feed in front from Steven Fogarty and beat Ellis high for his 10th goal of the season. Anders Bjork earned the second assist on the play, connecting a pass from the far boards to Fogarty, who was stationed below the goal line.
— Skating four-on-four, Jake Evans took a pass from Luke Ripley in the high slot, deked around a Providence player and finished high past Ellis’ glove for his eighth goal of the season at 15:06 of the second period. Bjork earned his second assist of the night on the play.
— Providence got on the board at 13:35 of the third on a Brandon Tanev power-play goal. After Petersen denied Tanev from in close, he picked up the rebound in the corner and curled back to the slot notched his 12th goal of the season.
— The Friars then tied the game, 2-2, at 17:37 of the third period when Brian Pinho forced a rebound in front low past Petersen following a Josh Monk shot on goal.
— Trevor Mingoia slotted home a rebound at the back post following an Erik Foley shot to give the Friars a 3-2 win at 1:23 of overtime.
Notes
— The Irish took a 1-0 lead for the 25th time this season (out of 31 games), which is the most first goals in the country.
— Notre Dame is 13-2-3 over the last 18 games, dating back to a 3-1 win over Western Michigan on Nov. 28.
— Notre Dame has outscored opponents by a 33-12 margin in the first period this season, including a 21-7 mark in Hockey East play.
— Cal Petersen made his 31st-consecutive start in the Notre Dame goal this season and his 44th in a row dating back to the 2014-15 season.
— Notre Dame Head Coach Jeff Jackson coached his 700th career game as a NCAA DI head coach.
— Dylan Malmquist scored in back-to-back games for the second time in his Irish career (Nov. 1 & Nov. 6).
— With two assists, Anders Bjork (11-20-31) became the second member of the Irish to hit 30 points on the season, joining Jake Evans (7-24-31).
— ND —
Dan Colleran, associate athletics communications director at the University of Notre Dame, has been a part of Fighting Irish Media since August 2015 and coordinates all media and publicity efforts surrounding the Notre Dame hockey and men’s golf programs. A native of Walpole, Massachusetts, Colleran spent the previous three years working with the men’s hockey and soccer programs at Providence College. Colleran also spent two years as an Assistant Executive Director of Communications & Championships at the Ivy League and is a graduate of Providence College (’06 & ’08G).