By: Meghan Lange
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A tightly contested game two of the Big Ten Playoff Quarterfinals went to the home team Saturday as the Irish hockey team fell to the third-ranked Golden Gophers, 4-2, Saturday night. The best-of-three series will be determined Sunday night as the two teams are set to clash once more.
The contest got off to a fast start when Justin Janicke rang a shot off the crossbar just over a minute into the first period. Shortly after Janicke’s near-goal, the Gophers peppered the Irish net with five shots on goal in a short sequence but Owen Say stood tall between the pipes, casting aside each shot faced to keep it scoreless five minutes in.
Following a physical start to the game, the Irish were called for a hook at 12:55 of the first and headed to the box. With Zach Plucinski jumping in front of a puck late in the special teams opportunity, the graduate defenseman helped hold the Gophers without a single shot on the two-minute man-advantage as the game remained scoreless.
The game would remain knotted, 0-0, through the first 20 minutes of play as both teams headed to their respective locker rooms in search of the elusive opening goal.
Notre Dame struck first with a goal off the stick of Hunter Strand just under three minutes into the second stanza.
After the first goal momentum shifted in Notre Dame’s favor as the Irish pressured the Golden Gophers’ net with a series of shots, including a second crossbar for Janicke. Despite the effort, the Irish were unable to break the netminder Nathan Airey and play continued with the 1-0 score.
Just over the halfway mark of the contest, Owen Say made the save of the game as he covered a loose puck behind him right on the goal line. The initial shot by the Minnesota skater bounced off and over his left pad before Michael Mastrodomenico fought off the rebound attempt as Say dove to cover the puck and keep the Gophers off the scoreboard.
The Irish were called for a trip shortly after the defensive output by the Irish and the Gophers would convert, finding the equalizer at 12:29 of the second to make it a 1-1 contest.
Minnesota garnered their first lead of the series at 4:16 of the third period after a failed clear attempt by the Irish wound up in the back of the net to make it a 2-1 contest. The Gophers extended their lead shortly after as a rebound ended up beating the toe save attempt of Say at 7:18 of the third.
The Golden Gophers were called for a hook moments after their third goal of the night and the Irish powerplay unit saw its first chance of the night. Although both lines saw chances at the net, the Irish were unable to break Airey in net and continued to trail, 3-1, as Minnesota returned to full strength.
Just under half-way through the third period Henry Nelson responded for the Irish with a shot from the slot, bringing the Irish within one of the Gophers.
The Irish opted for the extra attacker with 85 seconds left on the clock as Say headed to the bench. However, Minnesota took advantage of the open goal mouth at the opposite end of the ice after Airey was peppered with shots from the Irish attackers and sealed the game with the 4-2 final, forcing a decisive game three Sunday evening.
GOALS
- The Irish took the lead early in the second period when defensemen Paul Fisher fed the puck through the neutral zone to Hunter Strand who skated into the offensive end. The senior then sent it to fellow forward Jack Larrigan who fired a onetimer on net, dinging the far post, and setting Strand up for the rebound goal.
- Back in his hometown, Henry Nelson fired a shot top shelf from the slot to give the Irish their second goal of the night. The Maple Grove, Minnesota, native gathered the puck after a tight angle shot from Carter Slaggert hit the pads of Airey in the Gopher crease and bounced back out into play. Strand also registered an assist on the play.
KEY STATS
- The Irish opened the scoring for the second consecutive night inside 3M Arena at Mariucci after Hunter Strand’s shot at 2:40 of the middle frame beat Nathan Airey in goal.
- Strand also picked up an assist on the team’s third period goal to post his 10th career multi-point game, and first since Jan. 11 against Michigan.
- Owen Say stopped 31 shots in the Saturday loss, including all 15 shots faced in the first period to open the Irish up to take the early lead in the second.
- The Irish blocked 17 shots in Saturday night’s contest, with a pair of sophomores in Brennan Ali and Paul Fischer combining for four blocked shots a piece.
- With four shots on goal in the contest, Tyler Carpenter led the team in the category.
UP NEXT
The Irish and Golden Gophers close out the best-of-three series Sunday night with puck drop slated for 6p.m. CT inside 3M Arena at Mariucci.