SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame hockey team battled it out with No. 2/2 Michigan in its Big Ten opener Friday night, ultimately falling to the visiting Wolverines in a 5-3 final. Special teams proved the difference maker in the contest, with six powerplay goals combined between the two sides.
Friday’s contest also marked a milestone for the program as it was the final game behind the Irish bench for Ralph M. DiVietro Memorial Assocaite Hockey Coach Andy Slaggert after more than 32 seasons.
The first period started fast with the two teams trading chances but both netminders stood tall in their crease, keeping it a scoreless contest through the opening five minutes.
At 5:17 of the first period the Irish special teams unit, which ranked second nationally heading into the night, was tested for the first time as Notre Dame was assessed a five minute major for hitting from behind.
Despite stonewalling the Michigan powerplay for the first half of the kill, the Wolverines snuck on the board with a shot from the hashmarks at 7:44 of the first period. In total, Nicholas Kempf made seven saves on the Irish penalty kill to keep it a 1-0 game halfway through the first frame.
Following the major, the Irish kept the Wolverines mostly away from their net, not allowing another shot on goal for the opposition throughout the remainder of the period. Contrarily, the Irish fired two shots on net in the waning minutes of the frame but were unable to find twine and headed to the locker room down by one.
The Irish were whistled for the second infraction of the night just 42 seconds into the second period and were tested again on the penalty kill.
A one-timer from the slot sailed top shelf, beating Kempf at the 1:18 mark of the second period to make it a two-goal deficit for the Irish.
Approximately five minutes into the second period, a collision in the neutral zone after the puck was chipped into the offensive end resulted in a second five-minute major call against the Irish and the penalty kill unit was again tested.
On the kill, Cole Knuble danced in around the Wolverine net to let time tick off the clock as Kempf was without his stick at the other end. After drawing the Michigan netminder out of position, Knuble attempted to get the puck to his backhand but lost the rubber last second and the Irish were still without a tally on the night.
The Wolverines took the puck back down to the other end of the ice where they scored their third powerplay goal of the night to make it a 3-0 game.
After capitalizing on three powerplay opportunities, the Wolverines were called for a penalty of their own and were send to the box for two minutes – negating the end of the Irish major.
Despite a chance by Pano Fimis on the man-advantage opportunity for the Irish, Notre Dame remained scoreless as they trailed by three.
Michigan extended their lead to four goals at 13:45 of the second period off a deflection in front of the net, making it a 4-0 contest.
The Irish got one back shortly after the fourth Michigan goal when Brennan Ali scored his third goal in as many games to get Notre Dame on the board.
Notre Dame saw its second powerplay chance of the night with 5:11 to play in the second after the Wolverines were called for a hook.
On the man-advantage, Evan Werner slashed the Wolverine lead to two goals as he found the back of the net off a shot from atop the near circle.
The Irish were called for a trip at the 6:33 mark of the third period, leading to a Michigan powerplay goal less than a minute later. Notre Dame challenged the play for the high stick but the call on the ice was upheld and it was a 5-2 game.
Things got chippy late in the contest as five individuals were sent to their respective boxes after a scrum behind the Wolverine net. With the Irish sitting for the additional minor, the Notre Dame defense kept the Wolverines off the net.
Michigan was called for a penalty late and the Irish opted for the extra attacker in the final minutes of the contest. The decision paid off for the Irish as Danny Nelson found the back of the net at 18:57 to make it 5-3.
The Nelson goal was the final of the night as the Irish fell to the second-ranked Wolverines, 5-3.
UP NEXT
The Irish and Wolverines close out the weekend series Saturday evening with a 6pm puck drop, dedicated to Rudy Chapman.
The team asks all fans in attendance Saturday to wear white and Live Like Rudy as they honor the memory of their honorary teammate who lost his battle with cancer this past July after an eight-year battle.