Gophers Fall in Overtime Battle at Notre Dame

Gophers Fall in Overtime Battle at Notre Dame

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – A controversial overtime penalty ended up costing the Gopher Hockey program as Minnesota dropped a 2-1 overtime contest to No. 16/15 Notre Dame in Saturday’s Big Ten semifinal matchup.

After trading goals in the first period and then proceeding to play more than 54 minutes of scoreless hockey, the Gophers were called for a hooking penalty 31 seconds into the overtime session before Notre Dame capitalized less than a minute later.

Notre Dame opened the night when Cam Morrison scored at 2:00 of the first period when a puck bounced off him and in over Mat Robson only for the Gophers to respond with a goal from Sampo Ranta on the team’s first shot on goal of the night. Ranta’s sixth of the season at 5:44 was set up by Ben Brinkman and Sammy Walker for an all-freshmen tally as Ranta deflected a shot from the point between Cale Morris’ legs.

The pair of Big Ten Goaltender of the Year finalists were perfect for the rest of regulation. Robson finished the night with 35 saves while Morris came up with 25. Robson

Michael Graham scored 53 seconds into the overtime session for the game’s lone power-play goal.