GOPHERS’ POWER PLAY SCORES THREE TIMES IN 6-3 BIG TEN VICTORY OVER IRISH
By JOHN FINERAN
Christmas may have been 34 days away when the injury-plagued Notre Dame hockey team welcomed No. 4 Minnesota Friday night to begin a two-game Big Ten Conference series.
The last thing coach Jeff Jackson’s Fighting Irish needed was to be in the giving mood.
The Golden Gophers, the second highest scoring team in the nation coming in, scored three times on power plays, including two on a five-minute major, to take over sole possession of the Big Ten Conference lead with their 6-3 victory before a sellout crowd of 5,249 watching at the Lefty Smith Rink in the Compton Family Ice Arena.
Coach Bob Motzko’s team, which saw a nine-game winning streak snapped last weekend in a 3-1 non-conference loss at Bemidji State, got two power-play goals on blasts from the point by 6-foot-5 sophomore defenseman Sam Rinzel to improve to 11-2-0 overall and 5-0-0 in the Big Ten, good for 14 points, three more than idle No. 2 Michigan State.
Despite a goal and assist from suddenly hot graduate right wing Blake Biondi, the Irish suffered their sixth straight defeat of the season, falling to 5-8-0 overall and 1-6-0 Big Ten for 3 points, just two points ahead of cellar-dweller Penn State.
Rinzel scored his first power-play goal, his fifth of the season, as the Irish attempted to kill off a minor penalty to Brennan Ali early in the second period. Then Rinzel and senior center Aaron Huglen scored power-play goals after Notre Dame senior left wing Justin Janicke was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for kneeing Brody Lamb at 18:24 of the second period.
“You can’t take those penalties, give up three power-play goals and expect to beat a team like Minnesota, especially when we are shorthanded, especially on defense,” said Jackson, whose team was playing without two of its regular defensemen, graduate Zach Plucinski and sophomore Henry Nelson. Their places were taken by freshmen Jimmy Jurcev and Jaedon Kerr, and Jackson paired both of them with his other regulars – senior Ryan Helliwell, juniors Michael Mastrodomenico and Axel Kumlin and sophomore Paul Fischer – throughout the game.
“You can’t kill penalties when you have two freshmen defensemen who are giving us as many good minutes as they can,” Jackson continued. “It makes it hard. Our ‘PK’ (penalty-kill units) has been pretty good. Two of the goals went off of us. They were redirects by us. That’s the breaks of the game.”
Irish junior goaltender Owen Say surrendered five goals – the sixth by Connor Kurth came when Say was off for an extra attacker late in the game with the Irish trailing 5-3 – but made 32 saves. His Minnesota counterpart, sophomore Nathan Airey, made 25 saves.
In addition to the injuries on the blueline, Jackson was juggling things again on his forward lines with a couple of his players still nursing injuries. Sophomore Cole Knuble, the team’s leading scorer who missed last weekend’s series at Michigan State with an injury, was back playing right wing on a line with center Danny Nelson and Ali. Knuble did have an assist on Biondi’s power-play goal in the third period after senior center Hunter Strand scored his third of the season to give the Irish a brief 1-0 lead and freshman right wing Jack Larrigan scored his first collegiate goal that got the Irish back to within one goal in the second period.
The Irish started quickly against the Gophers and looked to have a 1-0 lead when Grant Silianoff’s faceoff-circle shot beat Airey on his stick-side short side at 1:51 of the opening period. But Minnesota asked for a review, and it was determined that Maddox Fleming’s back pass to Silianoff put the Irish offside at the blueline.
Notre Dame shook off the disappointment and took a 1-0 lead at 2:56 when Minnesota coughed up the puck at the Irish blueline. The Irish skated down on a 3-on-2 and Strand took a pass from Biondi to beat Airey from the faceoff circle to the goalie’s left.
But the Gophers tied it at 6:30 when the Irish got careless and Lamb’s 25-foot shot went off Say and into the net with August Falloon and Huglen receiving assists.
The Irish goalie, who was pulled in the third period of last Friday’s 8-3 loss at Michigan State, kept his teammates in it with saves against Gophers Brodie Ziemer (at 10:51), Rinzel (at 14:24), Moore (at 15:31) and John Mittelstadt (at 16:15).
The Irish pressured Airey and the Gophers in the final minute of the period with Danny Nelson and Knuble providing most of the work. But with 14 seconds to go, Ali was called for a cross check in the Minnesota defensive zone and the period ended with the Gophers, who outshot the Irish 12-10 in the period, on the power play. The Gophers needed just 38 seconds at the start of the second period to break the tie when defenseman Rinzel fired a shot from the center point off an Irish player past Say.
The Irish didn’t have a shot on net in the period until Knuble got off a backhander on a semi-breakaway that Airey stopped at 7:46. Notre Dame then had three more good shots in the ninth minute that Airey turned aside.
Minnesota made it 3-1 when Moore was left alone in front of Say and directed a pass from Matthew Wood into the net at 14:36. Less than a minute later, two Gophers broke behind Irish defenseman Jaedon Kerr, who disrupted a shot attempt by Huglen, and the Gopher was awarded a penalty shot. But Say stood his ground, making Huglen’s shot attempt a weak one.
Notre Dame cut into the lead at 18:24 when defenseman Ryan Helliwell and Carter Slaggert forced a turnover behind the Minnesota goal. Slaggert shoved the puck out to Larrigan, who put it behind the goalie to cut the Gophers’ lead to 3-2.
But in the final minute, Janicke was called for his kneeing major and game misconduct, and the Gophers quickly scored when Rinzel blasted another blueline shot past a screened Say at 19:36 to make it 4-2 going into the intermission.
Still skating with a man advantage to start the third period, the Gophers peppered Say with four shots before the Irish goalie couldn’t stop Huglen, who scored at 1:44 for a 5-2 Minnesota lead.
The Irish cut the deficit back to two goals at 15:44 on the power play when Knuble got the puck from Danny Nelson and shoveled it in front to Biondi, who fired it quickly past Airey. Jackson pulled Say at 17:28, but the Gophers got control of the puck and Connor Kurth completed the scoring into an empty net at 18:25.
The teams conclude their series Saturday night at 6:05 p.m.
MINNESOTA 6, NOTRE DAME 3
At Lefty Smith Rink in Compton Family Ice Arena, South Bend, Ind.
Minnesota 1 3 2—6
Notre Dame 1 1 1—3
First Period—Scoring: 1. Notre Dame, Hunter Strand 3 (Blake Biondi) EV 2:56; 2. Minnesota, Brody Lamb 9 (August Falloon, Aaron Huglen) EV 6:30. Penalties: Minnesota 0-0, Notre Dame 1-2.
Second Period—Scoring: 3. Minnesota, Sam Rinzel 5 (Jimmy Snuggerud, Oliver Moore) PP 0:38; 4. Minnesota, Oliver Moore 3 (Matthew Wood) EV 14:36; 5. Notre Dame, Jack Larrigan 1 (Carter Slaggert, Ryan Helliwell) EV 17:34; 6. Minnesota, Sam Rinzel 6 (Matthew Wood) PP 19:36. Penalties: Minnesota 1-2 (1-2), Notre Dame 4-19 (5-21).
Third Period—Scoring: 7. Minnesota, Aaron Huglen 3 (Mike Koster, Luke Mittelstadt) PP 1:44; 8. Notre Dame, Blake Biondi 4 (Cole Knuble, Danny Nelson) PP 15:44; 9. Minnesota, Connor Kurth 8 (unassisted) EN 18:25. Penalties: Minnesota 2-4 (3-6), Notre Dame 0-0 (5-21).
Shots on goal: Minnesota 38 (12-13-13), Notre Dame 28 (10-10-8).
Goalie saves: Minnesota, Nathan Airey 25 (9-9-7), Notre Dame, Owen Say 32 (11-10-11).
Faceoffs won: Minnesota 29 (8-10-11), Notre Dame 40 (14-16-10-0).
Power-play opportunities: Minnesota 3 of 4, Notre Dame 1 of 3.
Blocked shots: Minnesota 13 (5-2-6), Notre Dame 14 (4-7-3).
Referees: Jake Rekucki and Anthony Vikhter. Linesmen: Pat Richardson and Christopher Williams. Attendance: 5,249 (4,852).
Records: Minnesota 11-2-0 overall, 5-0-0 Big Ten for 14 points; Notre Dame 5-8-0 overall, 1-6-0 Big Ten for 3 points.
BIG TEN STANDINGS: (Numbers in parenthesis are school’s rankings in this week’s USCHO.com media/USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches polls):
(4/4) 1. MINNESOTA 5-0-0, 14 points (11-2-0 overall)
(2/2) 2. MICHIGAN STATE 4-0-0, 12 points (9-1-0 overall)
(rv/rv) 3. WISCONSIN 3-5-0, 11 points (4-8-0 overall)
(T5/5) 4. MICHIGAN 3-0-0, 8 points (8-2-1 overall)
(14/12) 5. OHIO STATE 2-2-0, 5 points (9-2-1 overall)
(rv/rv) 6. NOTRE DAME 1-6-0, 3 points (5-8-0 overall)
(rv/rv) 7. PENN STATE 0-5-0, 1 point (4-6-0 overall)
Thursday, Nov. 21: Michigan State 6, U.S. Under-18 Team 2 (exhibition).
Friday, Nov. 22: Minnesota 6, Notre Dame 3; Michigan 6, Penn State 5 (Wisconsin and Ohio State are idle).
Saturday, Nov. 23: Minnesota at Notre Dame, 6:05 p.m.; Michigan at Penn State, 7:30 p.m. (Wisconsin and Ohio State are idle).
THIS WEEK’S USCHO.com MEDIA POLL AND SCHEDULES
- Denver(NCHC) (12-1-0) lost to Arizona State Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday vs. Arizona State.
- Michigan State(Big Ten) (9-1-0) beat U.S. Under-18 Team Thursday, 6-2. Next: Nov. 29-Dec. 1 vs. Lindenwood.
- Boston College(Hockey East) (9-2-0) beat Providence Tuesday, 3-2 (OT); beat Northeastern Friday, 3-0. Next: Saturday at Northeastern.
- Minnesota(Big Ten) (11-2-0) beat Notre Dame Friday, 6-3. Next: Saturday at Notre Dame.
T5. Maine (Hockey East) (8-2-2) beat New Hampshire Friday, 3-1. Next: Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at Rensselaer.
T5. Michigan (Big Ten) (8-2-1) beat Penn State Friday, 6-5. Next: Saturday at Penn State.
- Colorado College(NCHC) (8-2-1) lost to No. 11 St. Cloud State Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday vs. St. Cloud State.
- Cornell(ECAC) (3-2-2) lost to No. 18 Quinnipiac Friday, 3-1. Next: Saturday vs. Princeton.
- WesternMichigan(NCHC) (7-1-1) beat Minnesota Duluth Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday at Minnesota Duluth.
- Providence(Hockey East) (7-3-2) lost to No. 3 Boston College Tuesday, 3-2 (OT). Next: Saturday vs. Long Island.
- St. Cloud State(NCHC) (9-3-0) beat No. 7 Colorado College Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday at Colorado College.
- North Dakota(NCHC) (6-6-0) beat Robert Morris Friday, 4-3 (OT). Next: Saturday vs. Robert Morris.
- Boston University(Hockey East) (6-5-1) beat Merrimack Friday, 6-3. Next: Friday, Nov. 29 vs. Merrimack in Friendship Four Tournament at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- Ohio State(Big Ten) (9-2-1) was idle. Next: Nov. 29-30 at Princeton.
- UMass Lowell(Hockey East) (8-3-0) lost to Connecticut Friday, 4-1. Next: Saturday vs Connecticut.
- Dartmouth(ECAC) (5-0-1) was idle. Next: Nov. 29 at Boston College.
- Minnesota State(CCHA) (9-4-2) beat Michigan Tech Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday at Michigan Tech.
- Quinnipiac(ECAC) (6-5-0) beat No. 8 Cornell Friday, 3-1. Next: Saturday at Colgate.
- Clarkson(ECAC) (8-4-1) lost to Brown Friday, 1-0. Next: Saturday vs. Yale.
- Massachusetts(Hockey East) (6-5-2) beat Harvard Friday, 5-3. Next: Sunday vs. Vermont.
Others receiving votes
Michigan Tech (CCHA) (6-3-0) lost to No. 17 Minnesota State Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday vs. Minnesota State.
Harvard (ECAC) (2-3-1) lost at No. 20 Massachusetts Friday, 5-3. Next: Friday, Nov. 29 vs. Notre Dame in Friendship Four Tournament at SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Penn State (Big Ten) (4-6-0) lost to No. 5T Michigan Friday, 6-5. Next: Saturday vs. Michigan.
Union (ECAC) (7-3-1) was idle. Next: Nov. 29-30 at Niagara.
New Hampshire (Hockey East) (4-4-2) lost to No. 5T Maine Friday, 3-1. Next: Friday, Nov. 29 vs. RIT.
Notre Dame (Big Ten) (5-8-0) lost to No. 4 Minnesota Friday, 6-3. Next: Saturday vs. Minnesota.
Niagara (Atlantic Hockey) (6-4-3) did not play. Next: Saturday and Sunday vs. American International.
Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) (8-4-1) beat Air Force Friday, 2-0. Next: Saturday vs. Air Force.
Arizona State (NCHC) (5-7-1) beat No. 1 Denver Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday at Denver.
Bemidji State (CCHA) (5-6-1) tied St. Thomas Friday, 2-2 (Bemidji State won shootout, 1-0). Next: Saturday vs. St. Thomas.
Connecticut (Hockey East) (7-5-1) beat No. 15 UMass Lowell Friday, 4-1. Next: Saturday at Massachusetts.
Augustana (CCHA) (5-6-0) lost at Ferris State Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday at Ferris State.
Air Force (Atlantic Hockey) (8-7-0) lost at Bentley Friday, 2-0. Next: Saturday at Bentley.
Wisconsin (Big Ten) (4-8-0) was idle. Next: Nov. 29-30 vs. Alaska Anchorage.
OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK
Tuesday, Nov. 19
American International 3, Stonehill 0 (non-conference)
Friday, Nov. 22
Canisius 3, Mercyhurst 2 (Atlantic Hockey)
Sacred Heart 3, RIT 2 (Atlantic Hockey)
Holy Cross 5, Army 3 (Atlantic Hockey)
Colgate 2, Princeton 1 (ECAC)
Yale 5, St. Lawrence 1 (ECAC)
Omaha 3, Miami 0 (NCHC)
Lindenwood 5, Stonehill 0 (non-conference)
Saturday, Nov. 23
Canisius at Mercyhurst, 5 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
Stonehill at Lindenwood, 5:30 p.m. (non-conference)
RIT at Sacred Heart, 7 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
Brown at St. Lawrence, 7 p.m. (ECAC)
Miami at Omaha, 8:07 p.m. (NCHC)
Lake Superior State at Alaska-Anchorage, 10:07 p.m. (non-conference)
Sunday, Nov. 24