Injury-depleted Irish can’t keep up with No. 4 Spartans in 8-3 road setback
By JOHN FINERAN
Notre Dame started its Big Ten Conference hockey series at No. 4 Michigan State Friday night shorthanded without the services of two key sophomores, leading scorer Cole Knuble and defenseman Henry Nelson, and with several others playing through injuries.
Hoping to end a three-game losing streak, coach Jeff Jackson’s Fighting Irish couldn’t keep up as the Spartans broke a 3-3 tie in the second period and dominated most of the final 32 minutes for an 8-3 victory before a sellout crowd of 6,555 watching at the Ron Mason Rink in the Clarence L. “Biggie” Munn Ice Arena.
It was the sixth straight victory for coach Adam Nightingale’s Spartans (8-1-0, 3-0-0 Big Ten for 9 points), who got two goals from junior center Karen Dorwart to counter a pair of goals by sophomore center Danny Nelson of Notre Dame (5-6-0, 1-4-0 Big Ten for 3 points). The teams conclude their series Saturday night at 8 p.m.
For the second straight weekend, Jackson had to shuffle his lines and defensive pairings in front of junior goaltender Owen Say, who made 25 saves but gave way to junior goaltender Jack Williams after Michigan State’s Mikey DeAngelo scored at 9:34 of the third period. Williams finished with eight saves and surrendered the Spartans’ second shorthanded goal of the game at 19:31.1 of the third period.
Knuble, who had scored six goals and 13 points in the team’s first 10 games, has been playing through a lower-body injury and remained in South Bend Thursday when the team buses traveled to East Lansing. Henry Nelson, Danny’s older brother, had scored two goals before suffering an upper-body injury in Notre Dame’s 4-2 Saturday loss last weekend at Michigan.
The Irish, who have struggled early in games this season, jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 1:09 of the first period when Nelson tipped home a shot from the point by junior defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico to beat Michigan State sophomore goaltender Trey Augustine.
But the Spartans scored twice within 64 seconds later in the period to grab a 2-1 lead after the first period. Tiernan Shoudy knocked a rebound past Say at 13:45 to tie the game. Then with the Irish skating on a power play, Shoudy broke up a play at center ice and fed Red Savage for a shorthanded goal at 14:49.
The Irish tied the game up at 2-2 just 2:55 into the second period on a power play. With Michigan State’s Patrick Geary off for cross checking, Nelson broke behind the Spartan defense and got a nice feed from Paul Fischer to beat Augustine. Brennan Ali also received an assist on the goal.
But the Spartans quickly answered on a power-play opportunity of their own. With Irish defenseman Zach Plucinski off for cross checking, Joey Larson scored at 3:50 for a 3-2 Michigan State lead.
Freshman Jack Larrigan, in the lineup because of the injuries to Irish centers Knuble and Jayden Davis, led a 3-on-2 break into the Michigan State zone and fed Mastrodomenico, whose quick shot beat Augustine at 7:58 to tie the game at 3-all.
But the Spartans answered 13 seconds later when Charlie Stramel beat a screened Say at 8:11. Dorwart then scored his first goal of the season at 9:43 to put the Spartans up 5-3.
The Irish had chances against Augustine later in the period, but the Spartan goalie twice stopped Grant Silianoff in close at 17:04 and 17:12 and then twice stopped Hunter Strand in the final seven seconds to keep the Spartans on top 5-3 headed into the third period.
Notre Dame didn’t help itself in the first 10 minutes of the third period as Michigan State had the first nine shots on goal, including Dorwart’s second goal of the game at 4:40 and Mikey DeAngelo’s goal at 9:34 that made it 7-3.
Jackson then pulled Say, who had entered the game with a 4-3-0 record thanks to a 1.71 goals-against average and .953 saves percentage. Williams, who spent his first two seasons backing up All-American Ryan Bischel, stopped eight Spartan shots before defenseman David Gucciardi scored Michigan State’s second shorthanded goal of the game with a little under 29 seconds remaining in the game.
Jackson said earlier this week that he likely would give freshman goaltender Nicholas Kempf a start this weekend. Kempf, 1-2-0 in three previous starts, has a 2.39 goals-against average and .927 saves percentage.
MICHIGAN STATE 8, NOTRE DAME 3
At Ron Mason Rink in Clarence L. “Biggie” Munn Ice Arena, East Lansing, Mich.
Notre Dame 1 2 0—3
Michigan State 2 3 3—8
First Period—Scoring: 1. Notre Dame, Danny Nelson 4 (Michael Mastrodomenico, Maddox Fleming) EV 1:09; 2. Michigan State, Tiernan Shoudy 1 (Red Savage, Nicklas Andrews) EV 13:45; 3. Michigan State, Red Savage 4 (Tiernan Shoudy) SH 14:49. Penalties: Notre Dame 2-4, Michigan State 2-4.
Second Period—Scoring: 4. Notre Dame, Danny Nelson 5 (Brennan Ali, Paul Fischer) PP 2:55; 5. Michigan State, Joey Larson 4 (Tanner Kelly, Red Savage) PP 3:50.; 6. Notre Dame, Michael Mastrodomenico 2 (Jack Larrigan) EV 7:58; 7. Michigan State, Charlie Stramel 3 (Gavin O’Connell, Matt Basgall) EV 8:11; 8. Michigan State, Karsen Dorwart 1 (Nicklas Andrews, Joey Larson) EV 9:43. Penalties: Notre Dame 1-2 (3-6), Michigan State 1-2 (3-6).
Third Period—Scoring: 9. Michigan State, Karsen Dorwart 2 (Matt Basgall) PP 4:40; 10. Michigan State, Mikey DeAngelo 1 (Tommi Männistö, Shane Vansaghi) EV 9:34; 11. Michigan State, David Gucciardi 2 (Shane Vansaghi, Karsen Dorwart) SH 19:31.1. Penalties: Notre Dame 1-2 (4-8), Michigan State 2-4 (5-10).
Shots on goal: Notre Dame 30 (8-16-6), Michigan State 41 (13-9-19).
Goalie saves: Notre Dame (33), Owen Say 25 (11-6-8) and Jack Williams 8 (0-0-8); Michigan State, Trey Augustine 27 (7-14-6).
Power-play opportunities: Notre Dame 1 of 4, Michigan State 2 of 3.
Faceoffs won: Notre Dame 38 (15-17-6), Michigan State 38 (12-9-17).
Blocked shots: Notre Dame 17 (10-5-2), Michigan State 2 (2-0-1).
Referees: Barry Pochmara and Bruce Vida Jr. Linesmen: Nick Huff and Pat Richardson. Attendance: 6,555 (6,114).
Records: Notre Dame 5-6-0 overall, 1-4-0 Big Ten for 3 points; Michigan State 8-1-0 overall, 3-0-0 Big Ten for 9 points.
BIG TEN STANDINGS: (Numbers in parenthesis before school are its rankings in this week’s USCHO.com media and USA Hockey/The Rink Live coaches polls):
(3/T3) 1. MINNESOTA 4-0-0, 11 points (10-1-0 overall)
(4/T3) 2. MICHIGAN STATE 3-0-0, 9 points (8-1-0 overall)
(nr/nr) 3. WISCONSIN 2-5-0, 8 points (3-8-0 overall)
(5/6) T4. MICHIGAN 2-0-0, 5 points (7-2-1 overall)
(14/14) T4. OHIO STATE 2-2-0, 5 points (8-2-1 overall)
(rv/rv) 6. NOTRE DAME 1-4-0, 3 points (5-6-0 overall)
(18/18) 7. PENN STATE 0-3-0, 1 point (4-4-0 overall)
Thursday, Nov. 14: Minnesota 5, Bemidji State 3 (non-conference)
Friday, Nov. 15: Michigan State 8, Notre Dame 3; Wisconsin 5, Penn State 4 (OT); Ohio State 5, Lindenwood 2 (non-conference)
Saturday, Nov. 16: Notre Dame at Michigan State, 8 p.m.; Wisconsin at Penn State, 7:30 p.m.; Ohio State at Lindenwood, 3:10 p.m. (non-conference); Minnesota at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m. (non-conference)
RESULTS FROM GAMES INVOLVING USCHO.com MEDIA POLL TEAMS
- Denver(NCHC) (11-0-0) won at No. 9 North Dakota Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday at North Dakota.
- Boston College(Hockey East) (7-2-0) lost at Connecticut Friday, 5-4.
- Minnesota(Big Ten) (10-1-0) beat Bemidji State Thursday, 5-3. Next: Saturday at Bemidji State.
- Michigan State(Big Ten) (8-1-0) beat Notre Dame Friday, 8-3. Next: Saturday vs. Notre Dame.
- Michigan(Big Ten) (7-2-1) is idle. Next: Nov. 22-23 at No. 18 Penn State.
- Cornell(ECAC) (3-1-1) lost at No. 17 Dartmouth Friday, 4-3. Next: Saturday at No. 20 Harvard.
- Maine(Hockey East) (7-2-1) beat No. 11 Boston University Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday vs. Boston University.
- Colorado College(NCHC) (8-1-0) lost at No. 13 Western Michigan Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday at Western Michigan.
- North Dakota(NCHC) (5-5-0) lost to No. 1 Denver Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday vs. Denver.
- Providence(Hockey East) (7-1-2) beat Massachusetts Thursday, 2-1. Next: Saturday vs. Massachusetts.
- Boston University(Hockey East) (5-5-0) lost at No. 7 Maine Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday at Maine.
- St. Cloud State(NCHC) (8-3-0) is idle. Next: Nov. 22-23 at No. 8 Colorado College.
- Western Michigan(NCHC) (6-1-0) beat No. 8 Colorado College Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday vs. Colorado College.
- Ohio State(Big Ten) (8-2-1) won at Lindenwood Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday at Lindenwood.
- UMass Lowell(Hockey East) (7-2-0) beat Vermont Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday at Vermont.
- Minnesota State(CCHA) (8-4-1) beat Northern Michigan Friday, 3-0. Next: Saturday vs. Northern Michigan.
- Dartmouth (ECAC) (5-0-0) beat No. 6 Cornell Friday, 4-3. Next: Saturday vs. Colgate.
- Penn State (Big Ten) (4-4-0) lost to Wisconsin Friday, 5-4 (OT). Next: Saturday vs. Wisconsin.
- Quinnipiac(ECAC) (4-5-0) won at Brown Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday at Yale.
- Harvard(ECAC) (2-2-0) lost to Colgate Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday vs. No. 6 Cornell.
Others receiving votes
Massachusetts (Hockey East) (4-5-2) lost to No. 10 Providence Thursday, 2-1. Next: Saturday at Providence.
Notre Dame (Big Ten) (5-6-0) lost at No. 4 Michigan State Friday, 8-3. Next: Saturday at Michigan State.
Michigan Tech (CCHA) (6-2-0) is idle. Next: Nov. 22-23 vs. No. 16 Minnesota State.
Union (ECAC) (7-2-1) beat St. Lawrence Friday, 4-0. Next: Saturday vs. Clarkson.
Clarkson (ECAC) (7-3-1) won at Rensselaer Friday, 3-1. Next: Saturday at Union.
Northeastern (HEA) (1-5-2) lost at New Hampshire Friday, 4-1. Next: Saturday vs. New Hampshire.
Omaha (NCHC) (3-6-0) won at Arizona State Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday at Arizona State.
Robert Morris (Atlantic Hockey) (4-2-2) lost at Sacred Heart Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday at Sacred Heart.
Augustana (CCHA) (5-5-0) beat U.S. Under-18 Team Friday, 4-1 (exhibition). Next: Saturday at U.S. Under-18 Team (exhibition).
Bowling Green (CCHA) (5-3-1) tied St. Thomas Friday, 2-2 (OT) (Bowling Green won shootout, 2-1). Next: Saturday at St. Thomas.
New Hampshire (HEA) (4-3-1) beat Northeastern Friday, 4-1. Next: Saturday at Northeastern.
Niagara (Atlantic Hockey) (5-4-3) tied Holy Cross Friday, 3-3 (OT) (Niagara won shootout, 1-0). Next: Saturday vs. Holy Cross.
Arizona State (NCHC) (3-7-1) lost to Omaha Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday vs. Omaha.
OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK
Tuesday, Nov. 12
Stonehill 4, Merrimack 3 (OT)
Friday, Nov. 15
Bentley 5, American International 2 (Atlantic Hockey)
Princeton 4, Yale 1 (ECAC)
Long Island 5, Stonehill 1 (non-conference)
Minnesota Duluth 5, Miami 0 (NCHC)
Army 5, RIT 1 (Atlantic Hockey)
Lake Superior State 4, Ferris State 2 (CCHA)
Omaha 4, Arizona State 2 (NCHC)
Air Force 1, Mercyhurst 0 (Atlantic Hockey)
Alaska at Alaska Anchorage, late (non-conference)
Saturday, Nov. 16
Long Island at Stonehill, 5 p.m. (non-conference)
American International at Bentley, 6 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m. (CCHA)
St. Lawrence at Rensselaer, 7 p.m. (ECAC)
Princeton at Brown, 7 p.m. (ECAC)
Augustana at U.S. Under-18 Team, 7 p.m. (exhibition)
Minnesota Duluth at Miami, 7:05 p.m. (NCHC)
Army at RIT, 7:05 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
Alaska at Alaska Anchorage, 9:07 p.m. (non-conference)
Mercyhurst at Air Force, 10:05 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)