Feb. 16, 2001
Ann Arbor, Mich. – Third period goals by David Inman and Brett Lebda capped a three-goal Notre Dame comeback as the Fighting Irish wiped out a 4-1 Michigan lead to salvage a 4-4 overtime tie with the fifth-ranked Wolverines at Yost Arena Friday night.
Irish goaltender Tony Zasowski turned in a stellar performance in goal as he faced 44 shots in the game including 24 in the second period.
The tie gives the Irish an all important point in their battle for the final CCHA playoff spot. Notre Dame now has 15 points in league play and remains tied with Bowling Green for the final playoff spot after the Falcons tied Ferris State Friday night, 2-2.
Notre Dame is now 8-21-6 on the year and 5-15-5 in league play. The fifth-ranked Wolverines are now 21-8-5 on the year and 15-5-5 in the CCHA.
The tie was the first point in the regular season at Yost Arena for the Irish since October of 1982 (0-12-1). Including playoff games, the Irish are now 1-17-1 at Yost Arena since that game in 1982.
For the fourth consecutive game, the Irish scored the game’s first goal improving their record to 7-3-2 when they score first. This time they scored via the power play as Rob Globke got his 15th goal of the season at 7:12 of the first period.
With Michigan’s Jay Vancik off for hooking, Inman started the play gathering a loose puck to the left of Michigan goaltender Josh Blackburn. Inman found Lebda alone at the right point. The freshman blueliner fired a wrist shot at the goal where Globke was able to deflect it over Blackburn’s pads.
The 15 goals for Globke are the most by a Notre Dame freshman since the 1984-85 season when Mike McNeill scored 16 and Tom Mooney had 19.
After getting shutout for four consecutive periods on home ice, Michigan cranked up their offense in the second period as the Wolverines fired 24 shots at Zasowski, scoring four times with three coming on the power play.
Defenseman Jeff Jillson and right wing Josh Langfeld did the damage, each scoring a pair of goals for Michigan.
The Wolverines were skating four-on-three when Jillson got his first of the night at 2:49 of the second period, blasting a slapshot past Zasowski from the top of the right circle.
Langfeld made it 2-1 at 8:42 when he converted a centering pass from Mike Cammalleri for his 12th of the season.
Jillson made it 3-1 with his second of the night and 10th of the year on a five-on-three power play. John Shouneyia carried the puck from behind the Notre Dame goal and found the All-American candidate at the top of the right wing circle where he one-timed a slap shot high over Zasowski’s glove hand.
The Irish got a break as the second penalty to Evan Nielsen expired. Ryan Dolder blocked a Michigan shot at the blueline and the puck caromed to Neilsen coming out of the penalty box. He gathered the puck in and raced in on Blackburn beating him with a low wrist shot to the stick side to cut the lead to 3-2 at 15:22 for his second breakaway goal in as many games.
Langfeld got the two-goal lead back at 17:34 with his second of the night and 13th of the year, Michigan’s third power play goal of the night.
Despite being outshot, 24-7, in the second period, the Irish used the power play to get back in the game early in the third period.
Dan Carlson took a feed from Rob Globke and shoveled a shot at Blackburn. The rebound came to Inman who flipped the puck past Blackburn for his ninth of the season and team-best fifth power play goal of the season at 6:32.
Michigan would have two more power play chances, but the first one backfired as Lebda scored shorthanded at 10:43 for his sixth goal of the season.
Dolder again did the work carrying the puck deep into the Michigan zone before getting a shot on goal. Blackburn made the first stop but Lebda crashed the goal firing the puck over the Michigan goaltender for the game tying goal.
From there, Zasowski made sure the Irish were going home with a point as he made several point blank saves in the final moments of regulation and in the overtime. He finished the night equalling his career-best with 40 saves.
Blackburn made 22 saves for Michigan. Notre Dame was 2-for-5 on the power play while Michigan went 3-for-8.
Notre Dame returns to action next weekend when they Irish travel to Fairbanks, Ak., for a pair of CCHA games versus the Nanooks on Feb. 23-24. Game time in Fairbanks is 7:05 p.m. (11:05 p.m. EST).
Game Summary: 1 2 3 OT F
Notre Dame (8-21-6/5-14-6) 1 1 2 0 4
Michigan (21-8-5/15-6-3) 0 4 0 0 4
Scoring
First Period: ND: Rob Globke 15 (Brett Lebda, David Inman), PPG, 7:12.
Penalties: ND: 2 for 4 minutes, UM: 2 for 4 minutes.
Second Period: UM: Jeff Jillson 9 (Mike Cammalleri, Andy Hilbert), PPG 4X3, 2:49, UM: Josh Langfeld 12 (Scott Matzka, Mike Roemensky), 8:42, UM: Jillson 10 (John Shouneyia, Mark Mink), PPG 5X3, 13:24, ND: Evan Nielsen 2 (Ryan Dolder), 15:22, UM: Langfeld 13 (Cammalleri, Hilbert), PPG, 17:34.
Penalties: ND: 6 for 12 minutes, UM: 3 for 6 minutes.
Third Period: ND: Inman 9 (Dan Carlson, Rob Globke), PPG, 6:32, ND: Lebda 6 (R. Dolder, Connor Dunlop), SHG, 10:43.
Penalties: ND: 2 for 4 minutes, UM: 2 for 4 minutes.
Overtime: No Scoring.
Penalties: ND: 1 for 2 minutes, UM: 1 for 2 minutes.
Shots On Goal:
Notre Dame 7 – 7 – 9 – 3 – 26
Michigan 8 – 24 – 9 – 3 – 44
Goaltender Saves:
Notre Dame – Tony Zasowski (65:00) 8 – 20 – 9 – 3 – 40
Michigan – Josh Blackburn (65:00 ) 6 – 6 – 7 – 3 – 22
Power Plays:
Notre Dame: 2 for 5
Michigan: 3 for 8
Attendance: 6,459