SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame hockey team closed out their 2024 home slate with a 5-3 loss to No. 4/4 Minnesota inside the Compton Family Ice Arena.
The Irish and Golden Gophers were tied heading into the third period but a goal with 6:45 to play by the visitors would break the snap the stalemate before an empty netter ended things for the Irish Saturday.
Notre Dame and Minnesota skated even early in the opening minutes but it was the home Irish who were faced with the first penalty kill of the night. The special teams play didn’t last long as Minnesota took their first penalty of the night, a trip, just 47 seconds later to make it four-on-four hockey partway through the opening frame.
Minnesota tried to clear the puck out of their defensive end but it sailed into the visitors bench to stop play. Danny Nelson lined up on the ensuing draw, getting the puck to Brennan Ali at his left who found Paul Fischer at the point. The sophomore blueliner skated for a moment before dishing a pass over to Axel Kumlin for the first goal of the night.
The Irish continued to press in the offensive end but a late shift in momentum found Notre Dame in their defensive zone and the puck in their net as Minnesota tied it up at 18:43 of the frame.
The two teams would skate to the first intermission in the stalemate, tied 1-1, through 20 minutes played.
Just 90 seconds into the second stanza, the Irish were called for a hold and faced their second penalty kill of the evening. It took Minnesota just 15 seconds to score on the man-advantage as the Irish found themselves down for the first time Saturday.
Notre Dame was called for a hook less than a minute after the Minnesota powerplay but the teams would skate even shortly after as the Golden Gophers were called for a slash off the faceoff just five seconds later.
The Irish were then tasked with 38 seconds of a four-on-three disadvantage after a tripping call went against them in the defensive end. Both teams managed to kill off their respective penalties as the teams returned to full strength just over six minutes into the second period.
Minnesota struck again just under eight minutes into the second period to take the lead as the Irish faced the 3-1 deficit which would hold until Danny Nelson’s sixth goal of the season at 14:48 brought the Irish within one.
Irish hopes were renewed following the late goal by Nelson with the Irish continuing to press in the final minutes of the second. The Golden Gophers were whistled for a trip with 38.7 seconds on the clock and it would take the home team just 16 seconds to convert as Ali tied the game up with 22 seconds to play in the second for the 3-3 score through 40 minutes played.
Notre Dame was called for interference at 3:31 of the third period after a pair of skaters came together near the blueline in the Irish offensive end. The Irish managed to kill off the infraction, even creating a small chance shorthanded by Hunter Strand, but neither team could convert on the special teams and play continued in a knotted 3-3 game.
Ian Murphy had the team’s best chance of the third midway through when Axel Kumlin fed him a pass up ice, breaking two defenders and skating in uncontested on goal. His shot was gloved down by the Minnesota netminder though with 12:48 to play in regulation.
Nicholas Kempf was peppered in shots halfway through the third period but continued to hold his ground in the crease to freeze the puck and send the game to the final media timeout of the night.
Minnesota would get a goal with 6:45 left in the final frame to take the 4-3 advantage.
The Irish were called for a minor with under three minutes to play in the third frame, deep in their offensive zone. While down a skater, Nelson and Carter Slaggert nearly connected for the would-be game-tying goal but the shot sailed just wide and the Irish continued to trail by a goal.
With the Irish back at full strength late in regulation, the team opted for the extra attacker as Kempf headed to the bench. The Irish held off the Golden Gophers pressure to force a few icings but the visitors would seal it with an empty net goal with just 11.7 seconds left for the 5-3 final.
GOALS
- Axel Kumlin buried his third goal of the year to open the scoring Saturday night. The Irish top powerplay unit went to work in the waning seconds of the advantage as Danny Nelson lined up for the draw. A trio of sophomores, including Nelson, Brennan Ali and Paul Fischer touched the puck before feeding a pass over to Kumlin who buried his shot top shelf at 8:10 of the first for the 1-0 tally.
- Nelson scored late in the second period with a shot on the doorstep to close in on the Minnesota lead. Ali found an open Kumlin at the point who danced through a pair of defenders before firing a shot towards net where he found the blade of Nelson for the team’s second goal of the night.
- Ali tallied his third point of the night with a goal in the final minute of the second. Once again on the powerplay, Paul Fischer found Axel Kumlin in the far circle who fired a shot on net. The Minnesota netminder made the initial save but was unable to freeze the puck. Ali then bounced one shot off the pads of Airey in the Golden Gophers net before lifting the puck over the outstretched netminder for the 3-3 tally.
KEY STATS
- A pair of Irish skaters posted career nights Saturday with three points each. Axel Kumlin opened the scoring at 8:10 of the first before posting two assists later in the contest. Brennan Ali, who had the team’s final goal of the game, picked up apples on the first two tallies of the night for his first three-point night in an Irish sweater.
- Paul Fischer posted two assists Saturday night for the fourth multi-point game of his career.
- The Irish powerplay unit was perfect on the night Saturday, scoring on both man-advantage opportunities while holding their offense to one powerplay goal on six attempts.
- Nicholas Kempf made 34 saves between the pipes Saturday night.
UP NEXT
The Irish closed out their 2024 home slate Saturday against Big Ten foe Minnesota. Notre Dame heads back to non-conference play with their first international trip in program history as they get set to participate in the Friendship Four next weekend in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The blue and gold will face Harvard in game one of the two-day tournament (Nov. 29-30) before facing either Boston University of Merrimack on day two. Puck drop on the Notre Dame vs. Harvard game is set for 7pm local time; 2pm ET.