NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame hockey team battled against the top-ranked Spartans of Michigan State Friday night, falling to the visiting team by a 4-1 margin after a late empty netter sealed their fate.
Junior forward Brennan Ali nearly had the Irish on the board first just over four minutes into play but his backhanded chance was turned away at the last second by Trey Augustine in the MSU net to keep the game scoreless.
At 6:39 of the opening frame, the first penalties of the night were assessed when a skater from either team got involved with some hitting after the play was blown dead. With both teams skating four-on-four, the Spartans were called for a bench minor, too many men, giving the Irish the first powerplay opportunity of the night.
The Irish peppered the Spartan net during the man-advantage, evening the shots on goal count at seven a piece before MSU iced the puck to force a stoppage of play.
MSU broke open the scoring at 11:53 of the first period when a rush up the ice drew Nicholas Kempf off his far post to create an open shot at the back door.
Following the Spartans’ opening goal Kempf stood tall in his crease, casting aside 13 saves saves to close out the first 20 minutes of play with his Irish only down by a goal behind 20 saves by the sophomore.
The Irish brought pressure in the Spartan end to start the second stanza but neither team was able to register a shot on net through the first 4:29 of the frame.
MSU recorded the first shot on goal of the frame, a shot from the halfwall while the Irish were on the kill at 4:59 of the period following a tripping call in the Irish zone. The Spartans capitalized on the man-advantage when Porter Martone net his second of the game with a shot top shelf over the blocker of Kempf.
At 9:26 of the frame, the Irish headed back to the box for interference after a play in the neutral zone to slow a Spartan offensive rush. Notre Dame killed off the MSU powerplay chance to keep it a two goal game off a series of key saves between the pipes by Kempf.
The Irish saw their first powerplay chance of the night when MSU was called for a slash with 4:14 to play in the second period. Danny Nelson and Evan Werner were stifled early on the powerplay chance when Augustine made a diving glove save to keep the Irish off the board as the Irish continued to search for their opening goal. Moments later though, Paul Fischer got the Irish on the board with a shot from the far dot at 17:07 to slice the Spartan lead in half.
The score would hold at 2-1 Spartans through the second period as the Irish skated to their locker room looking for the equalizer against the top-ranked team with a big third period looming.
Fischer nearly had his second of the game just over two minutes into the third when his shot from atop the circle rang off the pipe and back into play. The Irish were unable to settle the rebound in the Spartan end and play transitioned to the opposite end of the ice momentarily.
At 8:08 of the third period, the Spartans took advantage of a screen in front of Kempf to make it a 3-1 game. The Irish were sent to the penalty box shortly after the MSU goal for cross-checking and the home team was tasked with its third kill of the evening.
The Irish successfully killed off the infraction and were back to full strength just over 10 minutes into the final frame looking to overcome the two-goal deficit as time ticked off the clock.
With just 1:18 to play in regulation, the Irish called timeout and opted for the extra attacker but it was the Spartans who took advantage of the late decision as they found the back of the empty net at 19:06 of the third.
The Irish ultimately fell to the Spartans, 4-1, Friday night as they drop to 3-7-1 on the season behind a 43 save performance in goal by Kempf.
GOALS
- Paul Fischer scored the opening goal for the Irish Friday evening with a powerplay tally at 17:07 of the second period. The junior blueliner quarterbacked the Irish special teams unit, picking up a feed from Pano Fimis before burying his shot top shelf, beating Trey Augustine in the MSU net.
KEY STATS
- With an assist on Fischer’s second period goal, Sutter Muzzatti became the first Irish skater to hit double digit points on the year. The graduate forward now boasts 10 points off six goals and four assists in an Irish sweater.
- Fischer’s goal at 17:07 of the second was his third of the season and the team’s 10th on the man-advantage this season. Going one-for-two on the powerplay Friday night, the Irish are operating at .294 percent which ranks among the nation’s best.
- Nicholas Kempf posted 43 saves between the pipes Friday night, marking his first 40+ save performance of the season and third of his career.
- The Irish jumped in front of 14 pucks in the loss, with Jimmy Jurcev, Brennan Ali, and Jaedon Kerr each picking up a pair of blocked shots in the contest to pace the Irish.
UP NEXT
The Irish close out their November home slate with the Spartans Saturday night inside Compton Family Ice Arena. The game, presented by Jordan Lexus of Mishawaka, is set to start at 6:05 p.m. and can be streamed live on Peacock.