By John Fineran
Not enough goals and too many penalties are going to make a hockey season even longer. Notre Dame found that out once again Saturday night against No 1 Michigan at the Red Berenson Rink in the Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Staying out of the penalty box is a priority for any team when it faces the high-scoring Wolverines. Coach Brock Sheahan’s Fighting Irish couldn’t and the result was a 7-4 Michigan victory that was the seventh straight setback for Notre Dame, which has now lost 13 of its last 14 games. That losing streak started with 5-3 and 2-1 overtime victories by Michigan at Notre Dame Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Saturday’s setback also dropped Notre Dame to 4-15-1 overall and to 0-10-0 in the Big Ten, making the Irish the only Division I team playing in a conference not to have a league victory this season.
Despite goals by Jayden Davis, Evan Werner, Caeden Carlisle and Axel Kumlin, the Irish never led against coach Brandon Naurato’s Wolverines (18-4-0 overall, 9-3-0 for first place in the Big Ten with 26 points). Linemates Aidan Park and Garrett Schifsky each had two goals and an assist for Michigan which also got a goal and assist from Nick Moldenhauer, Michael Hage and Jayden Perron and a pair of assists from center Kienan Draper.
Michigan led 2-1 after the first period and then increased its lead to 5-3 going into what would be a penalty-filled third period. Referees Jacob Rekucki and Colin Kronforst handed out 144 minutes in penalties – 82 to the Irish, 62 to the Wolverines – in the final 20 minutes.
For the game, Notre Dame had 15 penalties totaling 92 minutes with Carlisle and Paul Fischer receiving majors and game disqualifications for contact to the head and cross-checking penalties, respectively. Michigan, meanwhile, had 11 penalties totaling 81 minutes and was assessed a cross-checking major and game disqualification to forward Josh Eernisse after he went after Notre Dame’s Danny Nelson following his collision with goaltender Jack Ivankovic 2:42 into the second period.
Ivankovic, a freshman leading the nation with 17 victories, suffered a lower-leg injury from the collision after stopping 12 of 13 shots by Notre Dame. He was replaced by fellow freshman Stephen Peck, who made 18 saves in the final 37:18. Naurato indicated after the game that Ivankovic likely would miss several games going forward. The two Michigan goalies totaled 30 saves, two fewer than Notre Dame sophomore Nicholas Kempf.
Park opened the scoring at 2:26 of the first period with assists from Schifsky and defenseman Asher Barnett. Notre Dame tied the game at 7:19 on center Davis’ first goal of the season off assists from Cole Brown and Dashel Oliver. Park made it 2-1 Michigan with another goal at 16:39 which ended the first-period scoring.
The Wolverines went up 3-1 at 1:29 of the second period on a power-play goal by Hage nine seconds after Notre Dame’s Brennan Ali was sent off for holding.
Werner, who played last season for Michigan, made it a one-goal game for the Irish when he scored his eighth of the season against Peck at 8:11 of the period. Schifsky and Moldenhauer then increased the Michigan lead to 5-2 with goals at 10:45 and 15:39, respectively.
But the Irish clawed back again within one goal on goals from blueliners Carlisle (his first at 17:33 of the second period) and Kumlin (at 6:59 of the third period). But goals by Schifsky at 9:11 and Perron at 13:24 concluded the scoring against Notre Dame, which visits Big Ten rival Penn State next weekend.
MICHIGAN 7, NOTRE DAME 4
At Gordon “Red” Berenson Rink in Fielding Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Notre Dame 1 2 1—4
Michigan 2 3 2—7
First Period—Scoring: 1. Michigan, Aidan Park 7 (Garrett Schifsky, Asher Barnett) EV 2:26; 2. Notre Dame, Jayden Davis 1 (Cole Brown, Dashel Oliver) EV 7:19; 3. Michigan, Aidan Park 8 (Kienan Draper) EV 16:39. Penalties: Notre Dame 1-2, Michigan 1-2.
Second Period—Scoring: 4. Michigan, Michael Hage 11 (Will Horcoff, T.J. Hughes) PP 1:29; 5. Notre Dame, Evan Werner 8 (Jaedon Kerr, Danny Nelson) EV 8:11; 6. Michigan, Garrett Schifsky 7 (Nick Moldenhauer, Luca Fantilli) EV 10:45; 7. Michigan, Nick Moldenhauer 5 (Kienan Draper, Aidan Park) EV 15:39; 8. Notre Dame, Caeden Carlisle 1 (Jayden Davis, Dashell Oliver) EV 17:33. enalties: Notre Dame 4-8 (5-10), Michigan 3-17 (4-19).
Third Period—Scoring: 9. Notre Dame, Axel Kumlin 2 (Cole Knuble, Carter Slaggert) EV 6:59; 10. Michigan, Garrett Schifsky 8 (Michael Hage, Ben Robertson) EV 9:11; 11. Michigan, Jayden Perron 7 (Tyler Duke) 4-on-4 EV 13:24. Penalties: Notre Dame 10-82 (15-92), Michigan 7-62 (11-81).
Shots on goal: Notre Dame 34 (11-17-6), Michigan 39 (11-13-15).
Goalie saves: Notre Dame (32), Nicholas Kempf 32 (9-10-13); Michigan (30), Jack Ivankovic 12 (10-2-inj-inj) and Stephen Peck 18 (dns-13-5).
Power-play opportunities: Notre Dame 0 of 1, Michigan 1 of 3.
Faceoffs won: Notre Dame 30 (11-8-11), Michigan 33 (6-19-8).
Blocked shots: Notre Dame 13 (3-3-7), Michigan 20 (6-11-3).
Referees: Jacob Rekucki and Colin Kronforst. Linesmen: Pat Richardson and Justin Cornell. Attendance: 5,800c.
Records: Notre Dame 4-15-1, 0-10-0 Big Ten for 1 point; Michigan 18-4-0, 8-3-0 Big Ten for 26 points.
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 12 26 9-3-0-0-1-0 53-31 18-4-0 108-47
(3/3) Wisconsin 10 22 8-2-0-0-2-0 49-31 15-3-2 83-48
(9/9) Penn State 10 19 6-4-0-0-0-1 25-27 14-6-0 66-52
(2/2) Michigan St. 10 18 6-4-0-0-1-1 29-18 15-5-0 70-35
(nr/nr) Minnesota 10 13 4-6-0-0-0-1 26-31 8-12-1 60-71
(nr/nr) Ohio State 10 9 3-7-0-0-1-1 31-45 7-12-1 59-69
(nr/nr) Notre Dame 10 1 0-10-0-0-0-1 19-49 4-15-1 51-85
Friday, Jan. 9
Michigan 5, Notre Dame 2
Penn State 3, Minnesota 0
Michigan State 6, Ohio State 2
Wisconsin 5, Alaska Anchorage 0
Saturday, Jan. 10
Michigan 7, Notre Dame 4
Ohio State 2, Michigan State 1
Penn State 5, Minnesota 2
Wisconsin 3, Alaska Anchorage 2
UPCOMING
Thursday, Jan. 15
Michigan State at Wisconsin, 9 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16
Notre Dame at Penn State, 7 p.m.
Michigan State at Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Michigan at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 17
Notre Dame at Penn State, 8 p.m.
Michigan at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 9
Big Ten Conference
Michigan 5, Notre Dame 2
Penn State 3, Minnesota 0
Michigan State 6, Ohio State 2
Non-conference
Wisconsin 5, Alaska Anchorage 0
Cornell 7, Alaska Fairbanks 1
Minnesota Duluth 6, Lindenwood 3
Boston College 8, Stonehill 2 (exhibition)
Hockey East Association
Providence 6, Maine 1
UMass Lowell 5, Connecticut 3
Boston University 1, Massachusetts 0
Vermont 3, Northeastern 2
NCHC
Omaha 6, St. Cloud State 2
Colorado College 3, North Dakota 2 (OT)
Western Michigan 4, Denver 1
Miami 2, Arizona State 1 (OT)
ECAC
Dartmouth 5, Harvard 4
Quinnipiac 7, Union 2
Princeton 5, RPI 2
Clarkson 3, Brown 2
Princeton 5, RPI 2
Yale 8, St. Lawrence 1
CCHA
Bowling Green 3, Ferris State 1
Augustana 3, Northern Michigan 0
Michigan Tech 5, Bemidji State 2
Atlantic Hockey America
Sacred Heart 5, Niagara 4 (OT)
Mercyhurst 3, Army 0
RIT 4, Robert Morris 1
Bentley 5, Air Force 1
Saturday, Jan. 10
Big Ten Conference
Michigan 7, Notre Dame 4
Ohio State 2, Michigan State 1
Penn State 5, Minnesota 2
Non-conference
Wisconsin 3, Alaska Anchorage 2
Minnesota Duluth 8, Lindenwood 4
Cornell 5, Alaska Fairbanks 2
Merrimack 5, Holy Cross 2
Hockey East Association
Massachusetts 2, Boston University 0
Providence 3, Maine 0
Connecticut 5, UMass Lowell 1
Vermont 5, Northeastern 3
NCHC
Arizona State 1, Miami 0
North Dakota 5, Colorado College 2
Western Michigan 6, Denver 2
St. Cloud State 2, Omaha 1
ECAC
Brown 4, St. Lawrence 1
Union 4, Princeton 2
Quinnipiac 4, RPI 3 (OT)
Clarkson 3, Yale 2
CCHA
Augustana 2, Northern Michigan 0
Bowling Green 5, Ferris State 1
St. Thomas 4, Minnesota State 2
Michigan Tech 4, Bemidji State 3
Atlantic Hockey America
Army 5, Mercyhurst 0
Sacred Heart 4, Niagara 2
RIT 3, Robert Morris 2 (OT)
Bentley 3, Air Force 1
Sunday, Jan. 11
Non-conference
Long Island at Stonehill, 3 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 12
Non-conference
Boston University at Harvard, 7 p.m.
SCHEDULES FOR THE USCHO.COM MEDIA POLL TOP 20 TEAMS AND OTHERS
- Michigan (Big Ten) (18-4-0) beat Notre Dame Saturday, 7-4. Next: Jan. 16 at Minnesota; Jan. 17 at Minnesota.
- Michigan State (Big Ten) (15-5-0) lost at Ohio State Saturday, 2-1. Next: Jan. 15 at No. 3 Wisconsin; Jan. 16 at No. 3 Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin(Big Ten) (15-3-2) beat Alaska-Anchorage Saturday, 3-2. Next: Jan. 15 vs. No. 2 Michigan State; Jan. 16 vs. No. 2 Michigan State.
- North Dakota(NCHC) (17-5-0) won at Colorado College Saturday, 5-2. Next: Jan. 16 vs. No. 7 Denver; Jan. 17 vs. No. 7 Denver.
- Minnesota Duluth(NCHC) (16-6-0) beat Lindenwood Saturday, 8-4. Next: Jan. 16 at St. Cloud State; Jan. 17 at St. Cloud State.
- Western Michigan (NCHC) (16-6-0) won at No. 7 Denver Saturday, 6-2. Next: Jan. 23 at Minnesota Duluth; Jan. 24 at Minnesota Duluth.
- Denver(NCHC) (12-9-2) lost to No. 6 Western Michigan Saturday, 6-2. Next: Jan. 16 at No. 4 North Dakota; Jan. 17 at No. 4 North Dakota.
- Quinnipiac(ECAC) (16-4-2) beat RPI Saturday, 4-3 (OT). Next: Jan. 16 at Colgate; Jan. 17 at No. 14 Cornell.
- Penn State (Big Ten) (14-6-0) beat Minnesota Saturday, 5-2. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Notre Dame; Jan. 17 vs. Notre Dame.
- Connecticut(Hockey East) (12-6-3) won at UMass Lowell Saturday, 5-1. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Vermont; Jan. 17 vs. Vermont.
- Dartmouth(ECAC) (13-4-0) was idle Saturday. Next:: Jan. 16 vs. Clarkson; Jan. 17 vs. St. Lawrence.
- Maine (Hockey East) (12-9-2) lost at No. 18 Providence Saturday, 3-0. Next: Jan. 23 at UMass Lowell; Jan. 24 at UMass Lowell.
- Boston College(Hockey East) (11-6-1) was idle Saturday. Next: Jan. 16 vs. No. 18 Providence; Jan. 17 at No. 18 Providence.
- Cornell (ECAC) (11-4-0) beat Alaska Fairbanks Saturday, 5-2. Next: Jan. 16 vs. No. 20 Princeton; Jan. 17 vs. No. 8 Quinnipiac.
- Minnesota State (CCHA) (12-6-5) lost to St. Thomas Saturday, 4-2. Next: Jan. 16 at Michigan Tech; Jan. 17 at Michigan Tech.
- Northeastern(Hockey East) (10-9-0) lost at Vermont Saturday, 5-3. Next: Jan. 16 at New Hampshire; Jan. 18 vs. New Hampshire.
- Augustana (CCHA) (14-6-3) won at Northern Michigan Saturday, 2-0. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Ferris State; Jan. 17 vs. Ferris State.
- Providence(Hockey East) (11-7-2) beat No. 12 Maine Saturday, 3-0. Next: Jan. 16 at No. 13 Boston College; Jan. 17 vs. No. 13 Boston College.
- Boston University(Hockey East) (10-9-1) lost to Massachusetts Saturday, 2-0. Next: Jan. 12 at Harvard; Jan. 16 vs. UMass Lowell; Jan. 17 at UMass Lowell.
- Princeton(ECAC) (11-5-0) lost to Union Saturday, 4-2. Next: Jan. 16 at No. 14 Cornell; Jan. 17 at Colgate.
Others
Union (ECAC) (13-6-2) won at No. 20 Princeton Saturday, 4-2. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Brown; Jan. 17 vs. Yale; Jan. 19 at Harvard.
Harvard (ECAC) (7-6-1) was idle Saturday. Next: Jan. 12 vs. No. 19 Boston University; Jan. 16 vs. St. Lawrence; Jan. 17 vs. Clarkson; Jan. 19 vs. Union.
New Hampshire (Hockey East) (11-8-0) was idle Saturday. Next: Jan. 16 vs. No. 16 Northeastern; Jan. 18 at No. 16 Northeastern; Jan. 23 at No. 13 Boston College; Jan. 24 vs. No. 13 Boston College.
Arizona State (NCHC) (12-11-1) beat Miami Saturday, 1-0. Next: Jan. 23 vs. No. 4 North Dakota; Jan. 24 vs. No. 4 North Dakota.
Michigan Tech (CCHA) (14-8-2) won at Bemidji State Saturday, 4-3. Next: Jan. 16 vs. No. 15 Minnesota State; Jan. 17 vs. No. 15 Minnesota State.
St. Cloud State (NCHC) (11-11-0) won at Omaha Saturday, 2-1. Next: Jan. 16 vs. No. 5 Minnesota Duluth; Jan. 17 vs. No. 5 Minnesota Duluth.
Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) (12-6-2) won at Air Force Saturday, 3-1. Next: Jan. 16 at Sacred Heart; Jan. 17 at Sacred Heart.
St. Thomas (CCHA) (12-7-3) won at No. 15 Minnesota State Saturday, 4-2. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Bemidji State; Jan. 17 vs. Bemidji State.
Massachusetts (Hockey East) (10-10-0) won at No. 19 Boston University Saturday, 2-0. Next: Jan. 16 at Merrimack; Jan. 17 vs. Merrimack.
Bemidji State (CCHA) (9-10-3) lost to Michigan Tech Saturday, 4-3. Next: Jan. 16 at St. Thomas; Jan. 17 at St. Thomas.
Bowling Green (CCHA) (11-5-4) won at Ferris State Saturday, 5-1. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Lake Superior State; Jan. 17 vs. Lake Superior State.
Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey) (10-8-2) lost to Merrimack Saturday, 5-2. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Air Force; Jan. 17 vs. Air Force.
Miami (NCHC) (12-8-2) lost at Arizona State Saturday, 1-0. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Omaha; Jan. 17 vs. Omaha.
Colorado College (NCHC) (9-10-3) lost to No. 4 North Dakota Saturday, 5-2. Next: Jan. 17 vs. Simon Fraser (exhibition); Jan. 23 at Omaha; Jan. 24 at Omaha.
RIT (Atlantic Hockey) (13-9-0) beat Robert Morris Saturday, 3-2 (OT). Next: Jan. 16 at Canisius; Jan. 17 vs. Canisius.
Minnesota (Big Ten) (8-12-1) lost at No. 9 Penn State Saturday, 5-2. Next: Jan. 16 vs. No. 1 Michigan; Jan. 17 vs. No. 1 Michigan.
Ohio State (Big Ten) (7-12-1) beat No. 2 Michigan State Saturday, 2-1. Next: Jan. 23 at Notre Dame; Jan. 24 at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame (Big Ten) (4-15-1) lost at No. 1 Michigan Saturday, 7-4. Next: Jan. 16 at No. 9 Penn State; Jan. 17 at No. 9 Penn State.
Merrimack (Hockey East) (10-10-0) won at Holy Cross Saturday, 5-2. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Massachusetts; Jan. 17 at Massachusetts.
Clarkson (11-11-0) (ECAC) won at Yale Saturday, 3-2. Next: Jan. 16 at No. 11 Dartmouth; Jan. 17 at Harvard.
Air Force (Atlantic Hockey) (10-10-2) lost to Bentley Saturday, 3-1.Next: Jan. 16 at Holy Cross; Jan. 17 at Holy Cross.
Sacred Heart (Atlantic Hockey) (11-7-2) won at Niagara Saturday, 4-2. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Bentley; Jan. 17 vs. Bentley.
Lindenwood (Independent) (9-11-0) lost at No. 5 Minnesota Duluth Saturday, 8-4. Next: Jan. 16 vs. Stonehill; Jan. 17 vs. Stonehill.