FIRED-UP COLES (BROWN AND KNUBLE) HELP IRISH END SKID WITH 5-4 PRE-THANKSGIVING VICTORY AT MERRIMACK
By John Fineran
Late Wednesday afternoon as he skated to his team’s bench at Lawler Arena, freshman left wing Cole Brown reached behind himself with his right hand as if to get something off the back of his stylish and new Notre Dame road uniform.
It was as if the 6-foot-3, 196-pound, 20-year-old from Rocky View County, Alberta, was telling his Irish teammates that the monkey they’ve been collectively carrying for the last month was about to come off their backs during an eventual 5-4 victory over former Hockey East rival Merrimack in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,647 watching at North Andover, Mass.
Brown, who had one goal in his first 12 games, scored two goals in a space of 85 seconds in the latter stages of the third period – a go-ahead goal at 13:22 after the Irish had rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 3-3 tie and the eventual game-winning goal at 14:37 after Merrimack had tied it up 4-4.
The two goals helped first-year coach Brock Sheahan’s Fighting Irish end a winless string of seven games – the last six of which were Big Ten Conference losses – going back to a 6-3 non-conference home victory over Robert Morris on Oct. 24. Notre Dame takes its new away jerseys with their gold-interlocked-ND on the front and a 4-8-1 record an hour south to Chestnut Hill to play a Friday matinee game at 1 against long-time Massachusetts rival and currently No. 15 Boston College (7-5-1).
Brown finished with a three-point performance, assisting on junior right wing Cole Knuble’s early-third period goal at 4:56 which began Notre Dame’s four-goal third-period outburst against the Warriors (5-7-0), who saw their two-game winning streak end. Knuble, Notre Dame’s leading scorer from a season ago who also has been missing from scoresheets this season, bettered his linemate with four points, adding three assists on Danny Nelson’s game-tying, power-play goal at 6:07 and Brown’s later two tallies.
Brown’s and Knuble’s center, 6-foot-6 Sutter Muzzatti, a grad transfer from RPI, and junior defenseman Paul Fischer each had a pair of assists while sophomore goaltender Nicholas Kempf stopped 31 of the 35 shots he faced.
For only the third time this season, Notre Dame jumped to a 1-0 lead at 9:23 of the first period when junior right wing Evan Werner directed a rebound past Merrimack’s 6-foot-5, 230-pound junior Swedish goaltender Max Lundgren. The rebound came after left wing Brennan Ali had deflected defenseman Henry Nelson’s point shot across the ice.
But coach Scott Borek’s Warriors, who had a 15-7 edge on shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes, tied it at 1-1 at 15:59 on Nick Pierre’s seventh goal of the season.
The Irish came out slow in the second period, giving up the lead on Caelen Fitzpatrick’s power-play goal at 1:42, and then going down 3-1 at 5:33 when Nolan Flamand scored.
For whatever reason, that goal seemed to ignite Notre Dame Though they wouldn’t score over the final 14:27 of the period, the Irish pressured Lundgren again and again, forcing the Merrimack goaltender to make 16 saves as Notre Dame finished the period on a 16-2 shot run.
Notre Dame was snakebitten in the second period and early in the third, with an apparent shorthanded goal by Knuble at 2:27 of the second period wiped away because he was offside before accepting a pass from Muzzatti. Then the Irish power play, ranked No. 3 in the nation coming into the contest, failed to score when Merrimack defenseman Filip Nordberg was banished from the game at 18:03 for making contact to Knuble’s head. At the start of the third period, 3:03 remained on the Merrimack major, but Lundgren was tested only twice.
It looked bleak for the Irish until Muzzatti led a 3-on-2 break, fed Brown to his left who in turn made a cross-ice feed to Knuble. Knuble quickly buried the shot at 4:56 for his third goal of the season to pull Notre Dame within a goal.
Then with Merrimack’s Parker Lalonde off for hooking at 5:19, junior center and co-captain Danny Nelson fed Knuble who skated behind the net and found Fischer at the point. Fischer then slid the puck back to Nelson, who beat Lundgren between his pads at 6:07 to tie the game at 3-all.
About seven minutes later, senior defenseman and co-captain Michael Mastrodomenico made a long pass from his own zone up ice to Knuble, who got the puck over to Muzzatti as two Warriors defended him. Muzzatti then sent the puck back to Brown, who came into the offensive zone uncovered and quickly fired the puck past Lundgren at 13:22 to put the Irish up 4-3.
The lead, however, lasted just 34 seconds as Merrimack’s Justin Gill tied the game with his fifth goal of the season at 13:56.
But the game wasn’t tied for long. Forty-one seconds later, Brown took a pass from Paul Fischer and buried a shot past Lundgren to give the Irish their 5-4 lead at 14:37.
The Irish had to kill off another Merrimack power play during the final 2:56 when Mastrodomenico took a hooking penalty at 17:04. Kempf made five saves, three coming while Merrimack enjoyed a 6-to-4 skaters’ edge after Borek pulled Lundgren at 17:49.
The Irish clearly had a reason to celebrate Thanksgiving a little early.
NOTRE DAME 5, MERRIMACK 4
At J. Thom Lawler Arena, North Andover, Mass.
Notre Dame 1 0 4—5
Merrimack 1 2 1—4
First Period—Scoring: 1. Notre Dame, Evan Werner 4 (Brennan Ali, Henry Nelson) EV 9:23; 2. Merrimack, Nick Pierre 7 (Trevor Hoskin, Seamus Powell) EV 15:59. Penalties: Notre Dame 1-2, Merrimack 0-0.
Second Period—Scoring: 3. Merrimack, Caelan Fitzpatrick 1 (Hunter Mayo, Parker Lalonde) PP 1:42; 4. Merrimack, Nolan Flamand 2 (Nathan King, Trevor Hoskin) EV 5:33. Penalties: Notre Dame 3-6 (4-8), Merrimack 4-19 (4-19).
Third Period—Scoring: 5. Notre Dame, Cole Knuble 3 (Cole Brown, Sutter Muzzatti) EV 4:56; 6. Notre Dame, Danny Nelson 5 (Paul Fischer, Cole Knuble) PP 6:07; 7. Notre Dame, Cole Brown 2 (Sutter Muzzatti, Cole Knuble) EV 13:22; 8. Merrimack, Justin Gill 5 (Caden Cranston, Austin Oravetz) EV 13:56; 9. Notre Dame, Cole Brown 3 (Paul Fischer, Cole Knuble) EV 14:37. Penalties: Notre Dame 1-2 (5-10), Merrimack 1-2-21).
Shots on goal: Notre Dame 33 (7-16-10), Merrimack 35 (15-7-13).
Goalie saves: Notre Dame, Nicholas Kempf 31 (14-5-12); Merrimack, Max Lundgren 28 (6-16-6).
Power-play opportunities: Notre Dame 1 of 3, Merrimack 1 of 4.
Faceoffs won: Notre Dame 34 (13-11-10), Merrimack 27 (7-8-12).
Blocked shots: Notre Dame 10 (3-2-5), Merrimack 9 (0-4-5).
Referees: Austin O’Rourke and Jeremy Tufts. Linesmen: Shane Kanaly and Jeff McCorkle. Attendance: 2,647 (2,549).
Records: Notre Dame 4-8-1, Merrimack 5-7-0.
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-SW-OW-OL GF-GA W-L-T GF-GA
(1/1) Michigan 8 17 6-2-0-0-1-0 37-22 13-3-0 83-34
(2/2) Wisconsin 8 16 6-2-0-0-2-0 33-25 10-2-2 55-34
(9/9) Penn State 8 13 4-4-0-0-0-1 17-25 11-5-0 51-46
(3/3) Michigan St. 6 12 4-2-0-0-1-1 19-10 9-3-0 42-21
(nr/nr) Minnesota 6 9 3-3-0-0-0-0 13-14 6-9-1 41-49
(rv/rv) Ohio State 6 4 1-5-0-0-0-1 18-27 5-7-0 36-37
(nr/nr) Notre Dame 6 1 0-6-0-0-0-1 7-21 4-8-1 36-44
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Notre Dame 5, Merrimack 4
Colgate at Michigan State, late
Friday, Nov. 28
Notre Dame at Boston College, 1 p.m.
Ohio State at Arizona State, 5 p.m.
Michigan at Harvard, 7 p.m.
Colgate at Michigan State, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29
Ohio State at Arizona State, 7 p.m.
Michigan at Harvard, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Denver, 9 p.m.
UPCOMING
Thursday, Dec. 4
Minnesota at Ohio State, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5
Wisconsin at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Ohio State, 6 p.m.
Michigan at Michigan State, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Wisconsin at Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
Michigan State at Michigan, 7 p.m.
SCHEDULES FOR TOP 20 TEAMS IN USCHO.com MEDIA POLL AND OTHERS
1. Michigan (Big Ten) (13-3-0) at Harvard Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 5 at No. 3 Michigan State, Dec. 6 vs. No. 3 Michigan State.
2. Wisconsin (Big Ten) (10-2-2) is idle this week. Next: Dec. 5-6 at Notre Dame.
3. Michigan State (Big Ten) (9-3-0) vs. Colgate Wednesday, late. Next: Friday vs. Colgate, Dec. 5 vs. No. 1 Michigan, Dec. 6 at No. 1 Michigan.
4. Denver (NCHC) (9-4-1) (OT) vs. Minnesota Saturday. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Miami.
5. Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) (12-4-0) is idle this week. Next: Dec. 5-6 at No. 7 Western Michigan.
6. North Dakota (NCHC) (8-4-0) at Bemidji State Friday, vs. Bemidji State Saturday. Next: Dec. 5-6 at St. Cloud State.
7. Western Michigan (NCHC) (9-5-0) is idle this week. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. No. 5 Minnesota Duluth.
8. Quinnipiac (ECAC) (10-3-2) beat Holy Cross Wednesday, 7-6 (OT). Next: Saturday vs. Stonehill, Dec. 5 at RPI, Dec. 6 at No. 20 Union.
9. Penn State (Big Ten) (11-5-0) is idle this week. Next: Jan. 3 at RIT, Jan. 4 vs. RIT.
10. Maine (Hockey East) (8-5-1) is idle this week. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. New Hampshire.
11. Northeastern (Hockey East) (8-4-0) vs. Brown Saturday. Next: Dec. 6-7 vs. No. 18 Massachusetts.
12. Connecticut (Hockey East) (7-5-3) tied Stonehill Tuesday, 3-3 (Stonehill won shootout, 2-1). Next: Dec. 5 at Merrimack, Dec. 6 vs. Merrimack.
13. Dartmouth (ECAC) (6-0-0) vs. Vermont Friday, vs. Merrimack Saturday. Next: Dec. 5 vs. Brown, Dec. 6 vs. Yale.
14. Minnesota State (CCHA) (8-2-4) at Northern Michigan Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Ferris State.
15. Boston College (Hockey East) (7-5-1) vs. Notre Dame Friday. Next: Dec. 5 at UMass Lowell, Dec. 6 vs. UMass Lowell.
16. Providence (Hockey East) (6-5-2) at Colorado College Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 9 at Brown.
17. Cornell (ECAC) (6-2-0) vs. No. 19 Boston University Saturday at New York (Madison Square Garden). Next: Dec. 5 at Clarkson, Dec. 6 at St. Lawrence.
18. Massachusetts (Hockey East) (8-7-0) at Army Saturday. Next: Dec. 6-7 at No. 11 Northeastern.
19. Boston University (Hockey East) (6-7-1) vs. No. 17 Cornell Saturday at New York (Madison Square Garden). Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Vermont.
20. Union (ECAC) (8-3-2) vs. Sacred Heart Friday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland, vs. Miami or RIT Saturday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland. Next: Dec. 5 vs. Princeton, Dec. 6 vs. No. 8 Quinnipiac.
Others
Harvard (ECAC) (5-1-1) vs. No. 1 Michigan Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 5 vs. Yale, Dec. 6 vs. Brown.
Colorado College (NCHC) (7-6-1) vs. No. 16 Providence Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 12-13 at Miami.
Michigan Tech (CCHA) (8-5-1) vs. St. Thomas Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 12-13 at Ferris State.
Bemidji State (CCHA) (9-5-2) vs. No. 6 North Dakota Friday, at No. 6 North Dakota Saturday. Next: Dec. 5-6 at Augustana.
Miami (NCHC) (8-4-0) vs. RIT Friday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland, vs. Union or Sacred Heart Saturday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland. Next: Dec. 5-6 at No. 4 Denver.
Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey) (9-6-1) beat Alaska Anchorage Sunday, 1-0; lost at No. 8 Quinnipiac Wednesday, 7-6 (OT). Next: Dec. 6 vs. Mercyhurst.
RIT (Atlantic Hockey) (9-4-0) vs. Miami Friday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland, vs. No. 20 Union or Sacred Heart Saturday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland. Next: Dec. 5 vs. Canisius, Dec. 6 at Canisius.
Omaha (NCHC) (5-7-0) at Yale Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 12-13 at No. 6 North Dakota.
St. Cloud State (NCHC) (7-7-0) is idle this week. Next: Dec. 5-6 at No. 6 North Dakota.
Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) (8-4-1) won at Army Tuesday, 3-1. Next: Saturday vs. New Hampshire Saturday, Dec. 5-6 vs. Niagara.
Ohio State (Big Ten) (5-7-0) at Arizona State Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 4-5 vs. Minnesota.
Arizona State (NCHC) (5-8-1) vs. Ohio State Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 12-13 at No. 5 Minnesota Duluth.
Minnesota (Big Ten) (6-9-1) at No. 4 Denver Saturday. Next: Dec. 4-5 at Ohio State.
Merrimack (Hockey East) (5-7-0) lost to Notre Dame Wednesday, 5-4. Next: Saturday at No. 13 Dartmouth, Dec. 5 vs. No. 12 Connecticut, Dec. 6 at No. 12 Connecticut.
Augustana (CCHA) (6-4-1) at Lake Superior State Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Bemidji State.
Sacred Heart (Atlantic Hockey) (6-5-1) vs. No. 20 Union Friday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland; vs. RIT or Miami Saturday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Army.
Notre Dame (Big Ten) (4-8-1) won at Merrimack Wednesday, 5-4. Next: Friday at No. 15 Boston College Friday, Dec. 5-6 vs. No. 2 Wisconsin.
Lindenwood (Independent) (7-5-0) vs. Long Island Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 13-14 at No. 10 Maine.
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Sunday, Nov. 23
Non-conference
Holy Cross 1, Alaska Anchorage 0
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Atlantic Hockey America
Bentley 3, Army 1
Non-conference
Stonehill 3, Connecticut 3 (OT) (Stonehill wins shootout, 2-1)
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Non-conference
Notre Dame 5, Merrimack 4
Quinnipiac 7, Holy Cross 6 (OT)
Colgate at Michigan State, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 28
Non-conference
Notre Dame at Boston College, 1 p.m.
Ohio State at Arizona State, 5 p.m.
Vermont at Dartmouth, 6 p.m.
RPI at Niagara, 6 p.m.
Princeton at Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
Michigan at Harvard, 7 p.m.
Colgate at Michigan State, 7 p.m.
Omaha at Yale, 7 p.m.
Long Island at Lindenwood, 7:40 p.m.
North Dakota at Bemidji State, 8:37 p.m.
Providence at Colorado College, 9 p.m.
Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland
Sacred Heart vs. Union, 9 a.m.
Miami vs. RIT, 2 p.m.
Adirondack Winter Invitational at Lake Placid, N.Y.
Alaska Fairbanks vs. St. Lawrence, 4 p.m.
Clarkson vs. UMass Lowell, 7:30 p.m.
Atlantic Hockey America
Air Force at Canisius, 1 p.m.
Robert Morris at Mercyhurst, 7 p.m.
CCHA
St. Thomas at Michigan Tech, 7:07 p.m.
Minnesota State at Northern Michigan, 7:07 p.m.
Augustana at Lake Superior State, 8:07 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29
Non-conference
Merrimack at Dartmouth, 4 p.m.
Brown at Northeastern, 4 p.m.
Stonehill at Quinnipiac, 4 p.m.
Massachusetts at Army, 4 p.m.
RPI at Niagara, 5 p.m.
New Hampshire at Bentley, 5 p.m.
Long Island at Lindenwood, 6:10 p.m.
Michigan at Harvard, 7 p.m.
Ohio State at Arizona State, 7 p.m.
Omaha at Yale, 7 p.m.
Princeton at Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
Bemidji State at North Dakota, 7:07 p.m.
Providence at Colorado College, 8 p.m.
Providence vs. Cornell at Notre Dame (Madison Square Garden), 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Denver, 9 p.m.
Atlantic Hockey America
Air Force at Canisius, 1 p.m.
Mercyhurst at Robert Morris, 7 p.m.
CCHA
Minnesota State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
St. Thomas at Michigan Tech, 7:07 p.m.
Augustana at Lake Superior State, 7:07 p.m.
Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland
Sacred Heart/Union loser vs. Miami/RIT loser, 10 a.m.
Sacred Heart/Union winner vs. Miami/RIT winner, 2 p.m.
Adirondack Winter Invitational at Lake Placid, N.Y.
UMass Lowell vs. St. Lawrence, 4 p.m.
Alaska vs. Clarkson, 7:30 p.m.