SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame hockey team completed the comeback Friday with an overtime game-winning goal scored by Cole Knuble to lift the Irish to a 3-2 victory over Wisconsin as they opened their Big Ten Conference slate.
After holding the 1-0 lead throughout the majority of the first half, the Badgers bounced back to net two quick goals late in the second period to take the 2-1 lead. Their lead did not last long however as the Irish answered moments later to knot things up heading into the final period of play while the ND netminding continued to be sound, backstopping the Irish to their fourth Friday night win of the season.
The Irish got on the board first when Henry Nelson buried a shot from the top of the near circle to take the 1-0 lead at 7:38 of the opening period.
Wisconsin was called for the first infraction Friday night, boarding, with 6:20 to play in the first period. Justin Janicke and Danny Nelson both had looks on net early in the man-advantage but could not convert on the two-minute penalty.
The Irish continued to hold possession late in the opening frame but took a penalty in the final minute and were tasked with their first penalty kill of the evening.
The penalty carried over into the second period but the Irish successfully killed it off and returned to full strength at 1:12 of the middle frame.
The two teams battled through the second period, with the Irish nearing even in shots on goal with the Badgers halfway through the contest.
A call behind the Irish net went in favor of the visitors and a Notre Dame defender was sent to the box for interference. The Badgers would capitalize on the powerplay opportunity at 15:02 to even the score 1-1.
The Badgers took the lead just over three minutes after a Wisconsin shot from below the circle wound its way past the glove of Say and into the back of the net at 18:16 of the second period. The lead did not last long however as just 31 seconds later Brennan Ali deflected a shot from the point through the five-hole of Tommy Scarfone for the equalizing tally.
The score would hold through 40 minutes played with both teams looking for an answer in the third.
Notre Dame was called for the first penalty of the third period, a holding call on an Irish attacker sent the penalty kill unit back on the ice. The Irish were able to get a few rushes up the other end of the ice but an odd-man-rush from Justin Janicke and Axel Kumlin sailed just wide of the Badger net and neither team could convert on the special teams chance.
Owen Say made a series of saves between the pipes halfway through the period, stopping two Badger chances back-to-back before freezing the puck to force the final media timeout of the game.
Coincidentals were called against both sides shortly after the break and the two teams skated four a side for two minutes but both net minders made a handful of saves on the sequence to keep the score knotted.
The Irish were called for an elbow with 21.8 seconds to play in regulation after a collision in the neutral zone and would successfully kill off the final seconds of regulation on the disadvantage to force the overtime frame.
Notre Dame and Wisconsin both came out hard in the overtime session, with the Badgers opening with 1:39 of powerplay opportunity. The man-advantage chance was short-lived for the visitors after being called for a trip with 3:45 to play.
The Irish won the ensuing faceoff and opted to settle the puck for the 24 seconds remaining on their own penalty before being starting a powerplay opportunity of their own halfway through the frame.
With the Irish back to full overtime strength, the four-man powerplay unit of Danny Nelson, Cole Knuble, Justin Janicke and Paul Fischer set themselves up.
Fischer and Janicke went deep with the latter picking up a pass from the defenseman at the defensive blue line and skating around the Big Ten logo before starting his rush up-ice. As he skated across the offensive blue line he dished the puck over to Knuble at the far wall who faked twice before ripping a shot stick-side and beating Scarfone for the game-winning goal.
The Irish finished the night with 24 shots on goal to the Badgers’ 44 as Say picked up his fourth win in an Irish uniform and first 40+ save performance for the Blue and Gold.
GOALS
- Blake Biondi attempted a backhanded wraparound shot which was denied but Danny Nelson picked up the loose puck behind the net and fed a quick shot up to his brother Henry just inside the near circle who buried it home, giving the Irish the 1-0 lead at 7:38 of the first period.
- Moments after the Badgers took the lead late in the second period, Brennan Ali deflected a shot from the point into the back of the net to make it a 2-2 game. Axel Kumlin’s initial shot fired towards the net where Ali stood on the doorstep to sneak it through the five-hole. The puck trickled across the line and was quickly reviewed. After the brief video review, the call on the ice stood and the score was even with 1:13 too play in the second period. Ryan Helliwell was also credited with an assist on the play.
- The team’s goal-leader net his third game-winner of the season, after powerplay tally in the overtime frame to clinch the second conference point for the Irish. Paul Fischer and Justin Janicke settled the puck in the Irish defensive end before setting up the rush where Janicke found Knuble who danced into the slot before burying his sixth goal of the season to give Notre Dame the 3-2 victory Friday night.
KEY STATS
- With the game-winning tally at 2:11 of the overtime frame, Cole Knuble now boasts a team-best three game-winning goals this season. The sophomore owns six goals in seven games played and now sits at 11 points off the season (6-5-11).
- Making 42 saves in the crease Friday, Owen Say stopped all but two shots faced to improve to 4-0-0 on the season. The junior netminder made two crucial saves in the overtime session before setting the Irish up for the eventual game-winner.
- The Irish went 1-2 on the powerplay Friday evening, capitalizing on a four-on-three opportunity in overtime to clinch the victory.
- Nine individuals highlighted the box score for the Irish Friday night in the win, including three different goal scorers in a trio of sophomores. In total, five sophomores highlighted the box score in the win.
- With six shots on goal in the contest, Danny Nelson led the team in the category.
- The Irish blocked 11 Badger shots in game one of the weekend series with Zach Plucinski’s four leading the way for the Irish.
- With 15 faceoff wins at the dot Friday, Cole Knuble led the Irish with a 60-percent faceoff win percentage (min. five taken).
- After their powerplay goal tonight, the Irish now boast seven on the season and have been converting at a rate of .318.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame and Wisconsin close out the home series Saturday night with the Irish holding the 1-0-0 series record thus far following their 3-2 overtime win Friday night.