Feb. 24, 2001
Fairbanks, Ak. – While many teams in the CCHA are just getting ready for the upcoming playoffs, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been in the playoffs for the last three weeks in their bid for the final spot in the league’s postseason tournament.
On Saturday night in Fairbanks, Ak., the Irish playoff run continued as senior left wing Dan Carlson scored a pair of goals and freshman defenseman Brett Lebda had a goal and an assist to lead the Fighting Irish to a 3-1 win over Alaska-Fairbanks to take sole possession of the final CCHA playoff spot.
The win extends Notre Dame’s unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2) and improves the Irish to 9-21-7 overall and 6-14-6 in league play, good for 18 points in the standings. Alaska-Fairbanks is now 9-16-7 overall and 7-14-7 in league play.
The Irish got lots of help in their playoff bid as Western Michigan downed Bowling Green, 2-1 and Michigan defeated Lake Superior, 5-2, on Saturday night. Heading into the final week of the season, Notre Dame is in tenth place with 18 points, Bowling Green follows with 17 points and Lake Superior has 16. Ferris State has clinched eighth with 22 and Alaska-Fairbanks in ninth with 21.
Playing with a sense of urgency and their playoff hopes on the line, Notre Dame’s Dan Carlson struck first at the 18:15 mark of the first period. With the Irish on the power play due to a tripping penalty to UAF goaltender Preston McKay, Carlson took a lead pass from defenseman Brett Lebda and snapped a wrist shot over McKay from the bottom of the left wing circle for his 16th goal of the season.
The goal extended Carlson’s point scoring streak to eight games (7-5-12) and marked the sixth consecutive game that the Irish have scored the game’s first goal.
Alaska-Fairbanks with its playoff hopes still alive scored the only goal of the second period. Left wing Ryan Reinheller carried the puck through center ice and slid the puck ahead to defenseman Daniel Carriere who split the Irish defense and then beat Notre Dame goaltender Jeremiah Kimento for his seventh goal of the season at 7:53 to even the score at one.
In the third period, Lebda came through big as he has done all season banging home the rebound of an Evan Nielsen shot at 8:04 for his seventh of the year as the two teams played four-on-four
Notre Dame added the insurance goal at 19:14. With McKay pulled in favor of a sixth attacker for UAF, Carlson closed out the scoring when he deflected Ryan Dolder’s centering pass into the empty net for his 17th goal of the season to equal his career high.
On the night, the Irish were able to shut down the Nanooks power play holding them scoreless in six chances. That broke a string of 12 consecutive games that Notre Dame had given up one or more power play goals in a game.
Alaska-Fairbanks outshot the Irish 30-29 in the game. Kimento made 29 saves in the victory while McKay made 26 in the loss.
Notre Dame closes out the regular season next weekend with a home and home series with Western Michigan. The Irish travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. on Friday, March 2 and then host the Broncos at the Joyce Center on Saturday night, March 3. At that game, Notre Dame will honor its Class of 2001 on Senior Night. Game time both nights is 7:05 p.m. EST.
Game Summary: 1 2 3 F
Notre Dame (9-21-7/6-14-6) 1 0 2 3
Alaska-Fairbanks (9-15-7/7-14-7) 0 1 0 1
Scoring
First Period: ND: Dan Carlson 16 (Brett Lebda), PPG, 18:15.
Penalties: ND: 3 for 6 minutes, UAF: 4 for 8 minutes.
Second Period: UAF: Daniel Carriere 7 (Ryan Reinheller, Pat Hallett), 7:53.
Penalties: ND: 4 for 8 minutes, UAF: 2 for 4 minutes.
Third Period: ND: Lebda 7 (Evan Nielsen), 8:04, Carlson 17 (Ryan Dolder), ENG, 19:14.
Penalties: ND: 2 for 4 minutes, UAF: 1 for 2 minutes.
Shots On Goal:
Notre Dame 11 – 11 – 7 – 29
Alaska-Fairbanks 5 – 20 – 5 – 30
Goaltender Saves:
Notre Dame – Jeremiah Kimento (60:00) 5 – 19 – 5 – 29
Alaska-Fairbanks – Preston McKay (59:37 ) 10 – 11 – 5 – 26
Power Plays:
Notre Dame: 1 for 4
Alaska-Fairbanks: 0 for 6
Attendance: 3,546