COLLEGE HOCKEY: NOTRE DAME AT MINNESOTA
By John Fineran
Looking for its first Big Ten hockey victory of the season, Notre Dame opens its league road schedule this weekend when it visits Minnesota Friday and Saturday nights. First-year coach Brock Sheahan’s Fighting Irish, swept at home last weekend by No. 2 Michigan, have had good success of late playing the Golden Gophers in their home – the 10,257-seat 3M Arena at Mariucci. Last season, the Irish won three of five games they played there, including two of three during the first round of the Big Ten Tournament when seventh-seed Notre Dame stunned second-seed Minnesota. Coach Bob Motzko’s Golden Gophers have struggled this season. Picked to finish third in the Big Ten and entering the season ranked in the Top 10 in both polls (eighth in USCHO.com media, seventh in USA Hockey/The Rink Live coaches), Minnesota has lost seven times, including its last four to currently ranked Top 10-ranked teams Minnesota Duluth (at Mariucci) and Wisconsin.
WHO: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-4-1, 0-2-0 Big Ten for 1 point) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-7-1, 0-2-0 Big Ten for 0 points).
WHEN: Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. EST.
WHERE: 3M Arena at Mariucci (10,257 capacity), Minneapolis, Minn.
RADIO: WZOC-FM (94.3) and UND.com (Tyler Reidy).
TV/STREAMING: B1G+ and KMSP-TV (FOX 9) in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
COACHES: Brock Sheahan (Notre Dame 2008), first season, 3-4-1. … Bob Motzko (St. Cloud State 1987), eighth season at Minnesota, 163-89-22; 21st season overall, 439-281-71.
IRISH VS. GOLDEN GOPHERS: Minnesota leads 47-30-6 in series which began during the 1924-25 season with the Golden Gophers winning a pair of 2-1 games Feb. 9-10 at the Minneapolis Arena. … Last season, the teams played seven times with the Irish winning three times. … During the regular season, Minnesota swept Notre Dame 6-3 and 5-3 Nov. 22-23 in South Bend before the teams split a two-game series in Minneapolis Jan. 17-18 with the Gophers winning 5-2 before the Irish won 4-3 in overtime. … Then in the best-of-three first round of the Big Ten Tournament March 7-9, seventh-seed Notre Dame upset second-seed Minnesota in Minneapolis, winning 3-2, losing 4-2 and winning 4-1.
LAST WEEK: Notre Dame fell 5-3 Friday and 2-1 in overtime Saturday to visiting Nol 2 Michigan, extending its winless string to three games. … Minnesota lost 5-2 Thursday and 4-0 Saturday at unbeaten Wisconsin, extending its losing streak to four games.
RANKINGS: Minnesota is receiving votes in the USCHO.com media and the USA Hockey/The Rink Live coaches polls. … Notre Dame is not receiving votes.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH: Notre Dame, predicted to finish seventh in the Big Ten, has shown itself to be better offensively but has hurt itself with untimely penalties and inconsistent play at times. … Last weekend, the Irish overcame a 13-1 shot disadvantage to outshoot Michigan 33-27 but two major penalties led to the Wolverines scoring four power-play goals Friday night. … Then on Saturday, Michigan outshot the Irish 40-20 but Irish sophomore goaltender Nicholas Kempf gave his team a chance to win with 38 saves in the overtime loss. … Kempf has played in all eight games and has a 3.22 goals-against average, a saves percentage of .894 and one shutout. … Six-foot-6, 240-pound grad-transfer center (from RPI) Sutter Muzzatti (6-3-9) leads the Irish in scoring. … Junior-transfer right wing (from Michigan) Evan Wener (3-4-7), junior left wing Brennan Ali (3-4-7), junior defenseman Paul Fischer (2-5-7) and senior defenseman Axel Kumlin (1-6-7) are next. … Junior captain Danny Nelson (3-3-6) had two goals and two assists last weekend with the Irish looking for more offense from junior center/right wing Cole Knuble (2-4-6) and freshmen forwards Pano Fimis (1-5-6) and Cole Brown (1-5-6). … Notre Dame has seven goals from its defensemen – two each from Fischer, senior Michael Mastrodomenico and junior Henry Nelson and one from Kumlin. … The Irish continue to be one of the top faceoff teams in the nation behind Fimis (66-37, .641), Jayden Davis (34-22, .607), Knuble (16-14, .533), Muzzatti (59-53, .527) and Danny Nelson (71-66, .518). … Henry Nelson (11) and sophomore defenseman Jimmy Jurcev (10) lead the team in blocked shots. NCAA statistics (through Nov. 5): Scoring offense, 3.50 goals per game (17th); scoring defense, 3.25 goals per game (43rd); scoring margin, 0.25 goals per game (30th); power-play percentage, 0.321 (9 of 28) (5th); penalty-kill percentage, 0.848 (28 of 33) (18th); faceoff-win percentage, 0.562 (260-203) (4th); penalty minutes per game, 18.13 (7th); shots per game, 33.38 (20th); shots allowed per game, 30.75 (22nd); team blocked shots, 82 (45th).
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS: Minnesota, picked in the preseason to finish third in the Big Ten race to defending champion Michigan State and Penn State, is trying to rebuild after losing its top five scorers to the pros — leading scorer Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis Blues), Connor Kurth (Orlando Solar Bears), Matthew Wood (Nashville Predators), Oliver Wood (Chicago Blackhawks) and Sam Rinzel (Chicago Blackhawks). … Senior right wing Brody Lamb (4-3-7) and sophomore right wing Brodie Ziemer (4-3-7) lead the Gophers in scoring followed by junior center Jimmy Clark (0-5-5), freshman left wing LJ Mooney (2-3-5), sophomore left wing Beckett Hendrickson (1-4-5) and senior defenseman Luke Mittelstadt (0-5-5). … Mittelstadt, who leads the No 1 team in the nation for blocked shots with 25, is joined in the blueline corps by sophomores Leo Gruba (1-3-4, 12 blocked shots), Max Rud (1-0-1) and John Whipple (0-0-0, 23 blocked shots) and freshmen Finn McLaughlin (0-1-1) and Jacob Rombach (0-0-0, 12 blocked shots). … The goaltending duties have been shared by returning junior Nathan Airey (2.99 goals-against average, .897 saves percentage, 1-4-1 record) and junior transfer (from Michigan State) Luca Di Pasquo (3.03 goals-against average, .902 saves percentage, 1-3-0 record). … NCAA statistics (through Nov. 5): Scoring offense, 2.20 goals per game (48th); scoring defense, 3.50 goals per game (46th); scoring margin, -1.30 goals per game (51st); power-play percentage, 0.120 (3 of 25) (52nd); penalty-kill percentage, 0.667 (20 of 30) (53rd); faceoff-win percentage, 0.468 (269-306) (50th); penalty minutes per game, 6.60 (57th); shots per game, 21.9 (39th); shots allowed per game, 30.2 (8th); team blocked shots, 165 (1st).
WHAT BROCK SHEAHAN HAS TO SAY ABOUT …
(Notre Dame success at Mariucci) “We have a decent amount of Minnesota guys on the team who get ready to play the Gophers. It (Mariucci) is an exciting place to play. It’s a great environment and it’s a fun trip.”
(Where the Irish need to improve) “The discipline thing has been a topic of discussion since the (Ice Breaker Tournament) weekend. It’s been hot and cold for us – it definitely cost us the game Friday. Yeah, you can sit there and complain about officiating. But you take those kind of penalties … they’re easy calls. They put a lot of stress on Nick (goalie Nicholas Kempf) and our penalty-kill (units). If we don’t do that, I think we’d be a good spot Friday night. For me, it’s consistency in our five-on-five play as well. Friday and probably the first and second (periods Saturday) were a lot closer to the way I think we’re capable of playing. If we do that over the course of the season, we’ll win more games than we lose. Our guys are starting to see that – how fast can we get to our game and how long can we do it for.”
(Minnesota) “Their record isn’t indicative – they have talent throughout their lineup. They’ve played a very challenging schedule. In my mind, knowing the teams they have played, their strength of schedule has to be one of the highest in the country. They’re pretty young, having lost a lot of players from last year. I expect them to be a team battling in the Big Ten as the season goes on.”
(Danny Nelson’s emergence last weekend) “Danny had four points last weekend, but in reality he might have played better hockey before last weekend. It’s consistency in his play – that’s what we’re working with him. If he does that, he’s going to produce for us at a high level. And honestly, he’s going to play at a high level for a long time.”
(Others who need to step forward) “You want to see guys up in your lineup continue to do things the right way. (Guys like) (Cole) Knuble, (Evan) Werner, (Pano) Fimis, (Cole) Brown to be consistent in their play, they are going to generate a lot. And if they generate a lot, they are going to score. That’s something those guys are learning. I’m hopeful to get consistent play out of the (Sutter) Muzzatti line (with wingers Carter Slaggert and Maddox Fleming). I hopeful to see Carter and Maddox get a little more production, and I think that will come with time. And I’ve been very happy with the Jayden Davis line (with wingers Will Belle and Dashel Oliver). The issue for them has been we’ve been in the (penalty) box too much and they haven’t had enough ice time. And our defensemen have been involved in the offense all year and hopefully will continue to do that.”
(The play of goalie Nicholas Kempf, who had 38 saves last Saturday) “He was outstanding the entire weekend. On Friday, he gave us a chance. We were back in that game at 4-2 and he was making saves. Then the third period on Saturday we sat back and Nick played big-time hockey the entire game. It’s what I think I’ve said since people have been asking me about him – he’s an elite goalie. To me, it’s a matter of time and reps. He’s starting to get reps and we’re starting to see it. I think he’s scratching the surface of his potential.”
NEXT UP: Notre Dame returns home to meet top-ranked Michigan State Friday at 7 p.m. (Military Appreciation Night) and Saturday at 6 p.m. … Minnesota plays a non-conference series at home with independent Long Island next Friday and Saturday nights.
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
(3/3) Penn State 2 6 2-0-0-0-0-0 7-5 9-1-0 41-26
(10/9) Wisconsin 2 6 2-0-0-0-0-0 9-2 6-0-2 31-11
(2/2) Michigan 2 5 2-0-0-1-0-0 7-4 9-1-0 53-16
(nr/nr) Notre Dame 2 1 0-2-0-0-1-0 4-7 3-4-1 28-26
(1/1) Michigan St. 0 0 0-0-0-0-0-0 0-0 5-1-0 23-11
(rv/rv) Minnesota 2 0 0-2-0-0-0-0 2-9 2-7-1 22-35
(19/rv) Ohio State 2 0 0-2-0-0-0-0 5-7 4-4-0 23-17
THIS WEEK
Friday, Nov. 7
Notre Dame at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (B1G+)
Wisconsin at Michigan, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
Penn State at Michigan State, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
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) (5-1-0) vs. No. 3 Penn State Friday and Saturday Next: Nov. 14-15 at Notre Dame.
- Michigan (Big Ten) (9-1-0) vs. No. 10 Wisconsin Friday and Saturday. Next: Nov. 14-15 at No. 3 Penn State.
- Penn State(Big Ten) (9-1-0) at No. 1 Michigan State Friday and Saturday. Next: Nov. 14-15 vs. No. 2 Michigan.
- Western Michigan(NCHC) (5-3-0) vs. No. 9 Denver Friday and Saturday. Next: Nov. 14-15 vs. Miami.
- Quinnipiac(ECAC) (5-2-2) tied Alaska Fairbanks Tuesday, 2-2 (Alaska Fairbanks won shootout, 3-2); Next: Friday at Yale, Saturday at Brown, Nov. 15 vs. No. 12 Boston University.
- Maine(Hockey East) (5-2-1) at No. 13 Massachusetts Thursday and Friday. Next: Nov. 14-15 vs. Vermont.
- Minnesota Duluth(NCHC) (8-2-0) vs. St. Cloud State Friday and Saturday. Next: Nov. 14-15 vs. Omaha.
- North Dakota (NCHC) (5-3-0) at Omaha Friday and Saturday. Next: Nov. 14-15 vs. Arizona State.
- Denver (NCHC) (4-3-1)at No. 4 Western Michigan Friday and Saturday. Next: Nov. 14 vs. No. 20 Colorado College, Nov. 15 at No. 20 Colorado College.
- Wisconsin(Big Ten) (6-0-2) at No. 2 Michigan Friday and Saturday. Next: Nov. 14-15 vs. No. 19 Ohio State.
- Connecticut(Hockey East) (4-3-1) vs. No. 15 Providence Friday, at No. 15 Providence Saturday. Next: Nov. 14 vs. No. 14 Northeastern, Nov. 15 at No. 14 Northeastern.
- Boston University(Hockey East) (3-5-1) vs. Merrimack Friday, at Merrimack Saturday. Next: Nov. 15 at No. 5 Quinnipiac.
- Massachusetts(Hockey East) (6-3-0) vs. No. 6 Maine Thursday and Friday. Next: Nov. 14 at No. 18 Boston College, Nov. 15 vs. No. 18 Boston College.
- Northeastern(Hockey East) (5-1-0) vs. Stonehill Friday and Saturday. Next: Nov. 14 at No. 11 Connecticut, Nov. 15 vs. No. 11 Connecticut.
- Providence(Hockey East) (3-3-1) at No. 11 Connecticut Friday, vs. No. 11 Connecticut Saturday. Next: Nov. 14 vs. Merrimack, Nov. 15 at Merrimack.
- Minnesota State (CCHA) (4-2-2) vs. Bowling Green Friday and Saturday. Next: Nov. 14-15 at Lake Superior State.
- Cornell (ECAC) (1-1-0) at Harvard Friday, at Dartmouth Saturday. Next: Nov. 14 vs. Brown, Nov. 15 vs. Yale.
- Boston College(Hockey East) (2-4-1) at Vermont Friday and Saturday. Next: Nov. 14 vs No. 13 Massachusetts, Nov. 15 at No. 13 Massachusetts.
- Ohio State(Big Ten) (4-4-0) is idle. Next: Nov. 14-15 at No. 10 Wisconsin.
- Colorado College(NCHC) (5-3-0) at Arizona State Friday and Saturday. Next: 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 at Massachusetts, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 7
Big Ten
Notre Dame at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Wisconsin at Michigan, 7 p.m.
Penn State at Michigan State, 7 p.m.
Atlantic Hockey Association
Niagara at Holy Cross, 6 p.m.
Army at Bentley, 7 p.m.
Air Force at Sacred Heart, 7 p.m.
Mercyhurst at RIT, 7:05 p.m.
Hockey East Association
Providence at Connecticut, 6 p.m.
Maine at Massachusetts, 7 p.m.
Boston College at Vermont, 7 p.m.
Merrimack at Boston University, 7 p.m.
New Hampshire at UMass Lowell, 7:15 p.m.
ECAC
Clarkson at Union, 7 p.m.
Cornell at Harvard, 7 p.m.
St. Lawrence at RPI, 7 p.m.
Quinnipiac at Yale, 7 p.m.
Princeton at Brown, 7 p.m.
Colgate at Dartmouth, 7 p.m.
NCHC
Denver at Western Michigan, 7 p.m.
North Dakota at Omaha, 8 p.m.
St. Cloud State at Minnesota Duluth, 8:07 p.m.
Colorado College at Arizona State, 9 p.m.
CCHA
Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech, 7:07 p.m.
Augustana at Ferris State, 7:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Bemidji State, 8:07 p.m.
Bowling Green at Minnesota State, 8:07 p.m.
Non-conference
Long Island at Robert Morris, 7 p.m.
Stonehill at Northeastern, 7 p.m.
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