SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Fighting Irish hockey team notched its first win of the season Sunday evening, defeating the Clarkson Golden Knights, 3-0, for the weekend split.
Four freshmen tallied first career points, including Jayden Davis whose first collegiate goal proved to be the eventual game-winning tally.
Danny Nelson and Landon Slaggert also net goals in the shutout victory while Paul Fischer and Maddox Fleming each had assists for their first collegiate points.
With the blanking, Ryan Bischel earned his first shutout of the season, and eighth of his career. The graduate goaltender stopped all 22 shots faced in the win and improves his season save percentage to .957.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish thought they had scored early into the contest off the stick of Drew Bavaro but the net was off its moorings and was ruled no goal.
The two teams continued to go back and forth, trading shots on either net with the Irish holding the slight edge halfway through the opening period.
Through the first 20 minutes of action, the Irish and Golden Knights traded a pair of penalties but neither team was able to score on the man-advantage and the score remained tied at 0-0 heading into the first intermission.
The Irish got on the board first at 4:21 of the second period, courtesy of Jayden Davis. His linemate and fellow rookie Maddox Fleming recorded the assist on the play as each tallied their first collegiate points on the eventual game-winner.
The two teams continued to battle throughout the second stanza, with the Irish posting an 11-7 edge in shots on goal in the frame, but neither side could break the netminding and Notre Dame carried the one-goal lead into the final period.
Centering the top line Sunday evening, freshman Danny Nelson took just 73 seconds of the third period to net his first career goal and extend the Irish lead to 2-0.
Landon Slaggert would score the final tally, his second of the weekend series, as the Irish topped the visiting Golden Knights, 3-0.
GOALS
- Irish freshman forward Maddox Fleming carried the puck along the boards into the Irish zone before sending the puck around the back of the net to Jayden Davis who beat his defender to the puck. Davis then fired a no-look shot on net, beating the Golden Knights netminder for the go-ahead tally at 4:21 of the second period. It was the first collegiate point of both Davis and Fleming’s careers with the Irish.
- After peppering the Clarkson net through the first minute of the third period, the Golden Knights attempted to clear the puck but Grant Silianoff blocked out the rush and kept the puck onside for the Irish. Skating it in, Silianoff fed a pass over to Danny Nelson who was posted up at the back door for the tap in goal. The tally gave the Irish the 2-0 lead at 1:13 of the final period and was the first career goal for D. Nelson.
- Landon Slaggert net his second of the weekend to round out the Irish scoring Sunday night, on the powerplay. The elder Slaggert dished the puck up to Trevor Janicke along the boards who quickly centered it where L. Slaggert fired a shot home. Paul Fischer set up the initial play and was credited with a second assist on the goal for his first career point.
KEY STATS
- Three Irish found twine Sunday night as the Irish defeated the Golden Knights, 3-0, to split the season opening series.
- With the first two goals coming off the sticks of freshmen, four newcomers tallied first career points in the win. Jayden Davis and Danny Nelson each tallied their first career goals while Maddox Fleming and Paul Fischer earned assists Sunday night.
- For the second consecutive night, the Irish outshot the Golden Knights, boasting a 24-22 edge over the visiting team.
- Ryan Bischel posted his first shutout of the season, and eighth of his career, with the 3-0 win.
- D. Nelson led the team in shots on goal Sunday, firing five pucks on net for a weekend total of 11. The freshman forward also led the team in blocked shots with three.
- L. Slaggert’s powerplay goal in the third period was his second tally in as many games.
UP NEXT
The Irish travel to Rochester, New York, for a one-game series at RIT. Puck drop against the Tigers is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, on FloHockey.tv.