SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey team skated to a 3-0 victory over visiting Ohio State Saturday to complete the weekend sweep of their Big Ten foe. Ryan Bischel picked up his nation-leading third shutout of the season behind a 26-save performance to earn his sixth win of the season and improve the Irish to 6-3-2.
Similar to that of game one, the two teams looked to be heading to the first intermission scoreless but Patrick Moynihan had other plans and tapped home the loose puck with 2.8 seconds on the clock for the 1-0 lead.
Notre Dame extended their lead halfway through the second period, a tight angle shot off the stick of Moynihan for his second of the night.
With the two-goal lead heading into the third period, the Irish continued to pepper the Buckeyes’ net with shots but were unable to capitalize on any opportunity and the scored remained 2-0 until late in the frame. With 3:07 to play in regulation, a timeout was called and OSU opted for the extra attacker when they returned to the ice.
It did not take long for the Irish to take advantage of the empty net on the opposite end of the ice as Cole Knuble scored his first with the Irish to give Notre Dame the 3-0 victory.
GOALS
- The Irish entered the offensive zone on an odd-man rush as Landon Slaggert, Cole Knuble and Patrick Moynihan outnumbered the Buckeye defenders to set up the eventual game-winning play. Moynihan’s shot from the top of the circle sailed wide where Knuble gathered it along the halfwall and fired it back towards the net. Moynihan’s second shot trickled into the crease where a sprawled out Terness frantically felt around for the puck. The graduate forward beat him to it and buried one last shot for the 1-0 tally. With the primary assist on the play, Knuble scored his first collegiate point while it was Moynihan’s first in an Irish sweater.
- Moynihan scored again, this time just over halfway through the second period with a shot off the backhand from a tight angle. Danny Nelson won the draw at the far faceoff dot where Moynihan picked up the puck and fed it over to Landon before getting the puck again behind the net and sending a backhand shot off the netminder for the 2-0 score.
- After picking up his first collegiate point with less than five seconds remaining in the first period, Knuble closed out the scoring Saturday night with an empty net goal at 17:48 of the third for the 3-0 final. Landon picked up the lone assist on the play for his first three-point night of the season and ties his career high, also recorded against Ohio State (Jan. 14, 2022).
KEY STATS
- Ryan Bischel’s 26- save night gives him his third shutout of the season which leads the nation. He now boasts 10 career shutouts.
- The Irish outshot the opposition 31-26 Saturday night and saw two Irish forwards net their first career goals for the Blue and Gold.
- With the game-winning goal in the final minute of the first period, Patrick Moynihan scored his first goal in a Notre Dame sweater before Cole Knuble iced the game with his first collegiate goal at 17:48 of the third.
- Landon Slaggert’s three assists marks a career high for the senior and ties his all-time best point total for a single game.
- With an assist on the second goal of the night, Danny Nelson is now tied for the team-lead in the category.
- Drew Bavaro fired eight shots on goal Saturday night for a team high.
UP NEXT
The Irish continue Big Ten play with a road trip north to Minnesota to face the Golden Gophers November 17-18. Puck drop for both games is set for 8 p.m. ET and will be streamed on B1G+.