GOPHERS BLANK IRISH 3-0 BEHIND DI PASQUO DESPITE KEMPF’S 31 SAVES
By John Fineran
Notre Dame’s hockey team wasted another strong goaltending effort by sophomore Nicholas Kempf Friday night against Minnesota in the 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, Minn.
Kempf, who made 38 saves last Saturday in a 2-1 overtime loss to second-ranked Michigan, turned aside 31 shots Friday night against the Golden Gophers, who notched a second-period goal by Beckett Hendrickson and scored two empty-net goals in the third period for a 3-0 shutout victory for goaltender Luca Di Pasquo.
Di Pasquo, a junior transfer from Michigan State where he was the backup to All-American Trey Augustine, notched his third career shutout with his 19-save performance. He also added an assist on defenseman John Whipple’s 200-foot empty-net goal at 17:48 of the third period. That goal came 36 seconds after Brody Lamb scored the first empty-netter after Irish coach Brock Sheahan had pulled Kempf for a sixth attacker with 3:02 remaining in regulation.
Kempf’s goals-against average for the season fell to 2.98 with the loss while his saves percentage improved to .903.
It was the third loss in a row for the Irish, who are now winless in their last four games and stand 3-5-1 overall and 0-3-0 in the Big Ten for one point. The victory for coach Bob Motzko’s Gophers, unranked for the first time in 5½ years, ended their four-game losing streak and improved their records to 3-7-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the Big Ten for three points. The two teams meet again Saturday night at 8 p.m.
Notre Dame’s offense never really got untracked Friday night. The Irish didn’t help themselves having to kill off four minor penalties, and they didn’t get a shot against Di Pasquo in their only power-play opportunity of the game in the second period.
Kempf made five saves alone during the first penalty-kill by Notre Dame with Pano Fimis off for holding the stick of a Minnesota player at 6:28. The Gophers would eventually outshoot the Irish 15-7 in the scoreless first period and went to the locker room with a second power play when Irish defenseman Paul Fischer was penalized for tripping at the 19:58 mark of the first period. Notre Dame killed that penalty, too, thanks to Kempf’s three saves early in the second period.
The Irish goaltender would make two more saves with teammate Cole Brown in the penalty box for cross checking at 3:12 of the second period. Once again, the Gophers did not score.
Minnesota finally broke the scoreless tie with the teams at full strength when Hendrickson fed linemate Erik Pahlsson along the boards. Pahlsson took the puck behind the Irish net and then centered it back to Hendrickson for the goal at 7:04 of the second period.
Minnesota defenseman Jacob Rombach picked up the Gophers’ only penalty of the night for holding at 8:57. But the Irish power play, the fifth best in the country coming in, failed to produce a shot on goal. The period would end with Brown drawing a second minor penalty, this one for roughing at 19:48.
Notre Dame’s best opportunity to score came early in the third period while shorthanded. Michael Mastrodomenico’s shot on goal 34 seconds into the period was turned aside by Di Pasquo, and the rebound came out to Carter Slaggert, whose shot hit the pipe.
The Irish did manage to win 35 of 57 faceoffs during the game, with Danny Nelson going 13-5, and Notre Dame blocked 11 shots to 10 by Minnesota, which entered the game leading the nation with 165.
MINNESOTA 3, NOTRE DAME 0
At 3M Arena at Mariucci, Minneapolis, Minn.
Notre Dame 0 0 0—0
Minnesota 0 1 2—3
First Period—Scoring: None. Penalties: Notre Dame 2-4, Minnesota 0-0.
Second Period—Scoring: 1. Minnesota, Beckett Hendrickson 2 (Pahlsson) EV 7:04. Penalties: Notre Dame 2-4 (4-8), Minnesota 1-2 (1-2).
Third Period—Scoring: 2. Minnesota, Brody Lamb 5 (Jimmy Clark, Brodie Ziemer) EN 17:12; 3. Minnesota, John Whipple 1 (Luca Di Pasquo) EN 17:48. Penalties: Notre Dame 0-0 (4-8), Minnesota 0-0 (1-2).
Shots on goal: Notre Dame 19 (7-6-6), Minnesota 33 (15-11-7).
Goalie saves: Notre Dame, Nicholas Kempf 31 (15-10-6); Minnesota, Luca Di Pasquo 19 (7-6-6).
Power-play opportunities: Notre Dame 0 of 1, Minnesota 0 of 4.
Faceoffs won: Notre Dame 35 (9-15-11), Minnesota 22 (7-5-10).
Blocked shots: Notre Dame 3 (4-4-3), Minnesota 10 (2-4-4).
Referees: Brandon Schmitt and Jonathon Sitarski. Linesmen: Jonathan Sladek and Matthew Heinen. Attendance: 9,529 (10,257c). Records: Notre Dame 3-5-1, 0-3-0 Big Ten for 1 point; Minnesota 3-7-1, 1-2-0 Big Ten for 3 points.
BIG TEN STANDINGS AND SCHEDULE
(Numbers in parentheses are school’s rankings in this week’s USCHO.com media/USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches polls):
Conference Overall
GP Pts W-L-T-OW-OL-SW GF-GA W-L-T GF-GA
(2/2) Michigan 3 8 3-0-0-1-0-0 14-8 10-1-0 60-20
(3/3) Penn State 3 7 2-1-0-0-1-0 8-7 9-2-0 42-28
(10/9) Wisconsin 3 6 2-1-0-0-0-0 13-9 6-1-2 35-18
(rv/rv) Minnesota 3 3 1-2-0-0-0-0 5-9 3-7-1 25-35
(1/1) Michigan St. 1 2 1-0-0-1-0-0 2-1 6-1-0 25-12
(nr/nr) Notre Dame 3 1 0-3-0-0-1-0 4-10 3-5-1 28-29
(19/rv) Ohio State 2 0 0-2-0-0-0-0 5-7 4-4-0 23-17
THIS WEEK
Friday, Nov. 7
Minnesota 3, Notre Dame 0
Michigan 7, Wisconsin 4
Michigan State 2, Penn State 1 (OT)
Saturday, Nov. 8
Notre Dame at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (B1G+)
Penn State at Michigan State, 4 p.m. (B1G+)
Wisconsin at Michigan, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
NEXT WEEK
Friday, Nov. 14
Michigan State at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Michigan at Penn State, 7 p.m.
Ohio State at Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Long Island at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15
Michigan State at Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
Michigan at Penn State, 6 p.m.
Ohio State at Wisconsin, 7 p.m.
Long Island at Minnesota, 6 p.m.
UPCOMING SCHEDULES FOR TOP 20 TEAMS IN USCHO.com MEDIA POLL
- Michigan State(Big Ten) (6-1-0) beat No. 3 Penn State Friday, 2-1 (OT). Next: Saturday vs. No. 3 Penn State, Nov. 14-15 at Notre Dame.
- Michigan (Big Ten) (10-1-0) beat No. 10 Wisconsin Friday, 7-4. Next: Saturday vs. No. 10 Wisconsin, Nov. 14-15 at No. 3 Penn State.
- Penn State(Big Ten) (9-2-0) lost at No. 1 Michigan State Friday, 2-1 (OT). Next: Saturday at No. 1 Michigan State, Nov. 14-15 vs. No. 2 Michigan.
- Western Michigan(NCHC) (5-4-0) lost to No. 9 Denver Friday, 3-1. Next: Saturday vs. No. 9 Denver, Nov. 14-15 vs. Miami.
- Quinnipiac(ECAC) (5-3-2) tied Alaska Fairbanks Tuesday, 2-2 (Alaska Fairbanks won shootout, 3-2); lost at Yale Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday at Brown, Nov. 15 vs. No. 12 Boston University.
- Maine(Hockey East) (6-3-1) won at No. 13 Massachusetts Thursday, 6-2; lost at No. 13 Massachusetts Friday, 4-0. Next: Nov. 14-15 vs. Vermont.
- Minnesota Duluth(NCHC) (9-2-0) beat St. Cloud State Friday, 4-0. Next: Saturday vs. St. Cloud State, Nov. 14-15 vs. Omaha.
- North Dakota (NCHC) (6-3-0) won at Omaha Friday, 7-2. Next: Saturday at Omaha, Nov. 14-15 vs. Arizona State.
- Denver (NCHC) (5-3-1)won at No. 4 Western Michigan Friday, 3-1. Next: Saturday at No. 4 Western Michigan, Nov. 14 vs. No. 20 Colorado College, Nov. 15 at No. 20 Colorado College.
- Wisconsin(Big Ten) (6-1-2) lost at No. 2 Michigan Friday, 7-4. Next: Saturday at No. 2 Michigan, Nov. 14-15 vs. No. 19 Ohio State.
- Connecticut(Hockey East) (4-4-1) lost to No. 15 Providence Friday, 4-1; Next: Saturday at No. 15 Providence, Nov. 14 vs. No. 14 Northeastern, Nov. 15 at No. 14 Northeastern.
- Boston University(Hockey East) (4-5-1) beat Merrimack Friday, 3-2 (OT). Next: Saturday at Merrimack, Nov. 15 at No. 5 Quinnipiac.
- Massachusetts(Hockey East) (7-4-0) lost to No. 6 Maine Thursday, 6-2; beat No. 6 Maine Friday, 4-0. Next: Nov. 14 at No. 18 Boston College, Nov. 15 vs. No. 18 Boston College.
- Northeastern(Hockey East) (6-1-0) beat Stonehill Friday, 2-0. Next: Saturday vs. Stonehill, Nov. 14 at No. 11 Connecticut, Nov. 15 vs. No. 11 Connecticut.
- Providence(Hockey East) (4-3-1) won at No. 11 Connecticut Friday, 4-1. Next: Saturday vs. No. 11 Connecticut, Nov. 14 vs. Merrimack, Nov. 15 at Merrimack.
- Minnesota State (CCHA) (4-2-3) tied Bowling Green Friday, 4-4 (OT) (Minnesota State wins shootout, 2-1). Next: Saturday vs. Bowling Green, Nov. 14-15 at Lake Superior State.
- Cornell (ECAC) (2-1-0) won at Harvard Friday, 3-1. Next: Saturday at Dartmouth, Nov. 14 vs. Brown, Nov. 15 vs. Yale.
- Boston College(Hockey East) (3-4-1) won at Vermont Friday, 2-1. Next: Saturday at Vermont, Nov. 14 vs No. 13 Massachusetts, Nov. 15 at No. 13 Massachusetts.
- Ohio State(Big Ten) (4-4-0) was idle. Next: Nov. 14-15 at No. 10 Wisconsin.
- Colorado College(NCHC) (5-3-1) tied at Arizona State Friday, 3-3 (OT) (Arizona State wins shootout, 2-0). Next: Saturday at Arizona State, Nov. 14 at No. 9 Denver; Nov. 15 vs. No. 9 Denver.
RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
Sunday, Nov. 2
Non-conference
Dartmouth 6, Yale 1
Tuesday, Nov. 4
Non-conference
Quinnipiac 2, Alaska Fairbanks 2 (OT) (Alaska Fairbanks wins shootout, 3-2)
Harvard 6, Stonehill 2
Thursday, Nov. 6
Hockey East Association
Maine 6, Massachusetts 2
Friday, Nov. 7
Big Ten
Minnesota 3, Notre Dame 0
Michigan 7, Wisconsin 4
Michigan State 2, Penn State 1 (OT)
Atlantic Hockey Association
Holy Cross 5, Niagara 1
Army 3, Bentley 3 (OT) (Army wins shootout, 1-0)
Air Force 4, Sacred Heart 1
RIT 4, Mercyhurst 1
Hockey East Association
Providence 4, Connecticut 1
Massachusetts 4, Maine 0
Boston College 2, Vermont 1
Boston University 3, Merrimack 2 (OT)
New Hampshire 2, UMass Lowell 0
ECAC
Clarkson 5, Union 1
Cornell 3, Harvard 1
St. Lawrence 4, RPI 3
Yale 4, Quinnipiac 2
Brown 2, Princeton 1
Dartmouth 4, Colgate 1
NCHC
Denver 3, Western Michigan 1
North Dakota 7, Omaha 2
Minnesota Duluth 4, St. Cloud State 0
Arizona State 3, Colorado College 3 (OT) (Arizona State wins shootout, 2-0)
CCHA
Michigan Tech 4, Northern Michigan 1
Augustana 4, Ferris State 2
Bemidji State 4, Lake Superior State 1
Minnesota State 4, Bowling Green 4 (OT) (Minnesota State wins shootout, 2-1)
Non-conference
Long Island 6, Robert Morris 3
Northeastern 2, Stonehill 0
Saturday, Nov. 8
Big Ten
Penn State at Michigan State, 4 p.m.
Wisconsin at Michigan, 7 p.m.
Notre Dame at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Atlantic Hockey Association
Niagara at Holy Cross, 2 p.m.
Air Force at Sacred Heart, 5 p.m.
Mercyhurst at RIT, 5:05 p.m.
ECAC
Clarkson at RPI, 4 p.m.
St. Lawrence at Union, 7 p.m.
Colgate at Harvard, 7 p.m.
Cornell at Dartmouth, 7 p.m.
Quinnipiac at Brown, 7 p.m.
Princeton at Yale, 7 p.m.
Hockey East Association
Boston University at Merrimack, 6 p.m.
UMass Lowell at New Hampshire, 7 p.m.
Boston College at Vermont, 7 p.m.
Connecticut at Providence, 7 p.m.
NCHC
Denver at Western Michigan, 6 p.m.
Colorado College at Arizona State, 7 p.m.
St. Cloud State at Minnesota Duluth, 7:07 p.m.
North Dakota at Omaha, 8 p.m.
CCHA
Augustana at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
Bowling Green at Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
Non-conference
Long Island at Robert Morris, 7 p.m.
Stonehill at Northeastern, 7 p.m.
Simon Fraser at Alaska Fairbanks, 11:07 p.m. (exhibition)
Sunday, Nov. 9
Atlantic Hockey Association
Bentley at Army, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Non-conference
St. Cloud State at St. Thomas, 8:07 p.m.