By JOHN FINERAN
SOUTH BEND – Notre Dame hockey coach Jeff Jackson knew he and his team would be battling long odds and their emotions Saturday night when they completed the Big Ten Conference regular season against No. 3 Michigan State.
Tied for first place with No. 2 Minnesota coming into Saturday’s game at the Compton Family Ice Arena, the Spartans pulled away from Notre Dame with two unanswered goals in the second period and never trailed again for a 5-2 victory that assured them a share of the Big Ten regular-season title with the Gophers, who matched MSU’s 50 league points later Saturday night thanks to a 5-3 victory at No. 15 Penn State.
Coach Adam Nightingale’s Spartans (24-6-4, 15-5-4 Big Ten) unleased 50 shots on the Irish freshman goaltender Nicholas Kempf, celebrating his 19th birthday, and got big production from its third and fourth lines. Fourth-line freshman right wing Shane Vansaghi scored two goals as did third-line junior center Tiernan Shoudy, while graduate-transfer defenseman (from Colorado College) Nicklas Andrews had a pair of assists. Sophomore goaltender Trey Augustine stopped 29 of the 31 Irish shots he faced.
Even though the Spartans and Golden Gophers tied for the league regular-season title, Michigan State earned the first-round bye into the Big Ten Tournament because it won the season series against Minnesota. So MSU will have next weekend off.
“We’ve been in their shoes before – playing for first place and a bye (into the postseason tournament,” Jackson said after Michigan State, his alma mater, denied him his 600th collegiate coaching victory for the second straight night again by another 5-2 score. “When a team is playing for something like that, your determination shows up. We didn’t handle it as well as we did last night. I thought we were on our heels a lot because they were playing for something important.”
Saturday’s loss dropped the Irish to 10-23-1 overall and 4-19-1 Big Ten for 14 points and seventh place in the Big Ten. Next for Notre Dame is a best-of-three Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal series at Minnesota beginning Friday at 8 p.m. The Irish lost three of four to the Gophers this season, the lone victory coming back on Jan. 18 when graduate right wing Blake Biondi scored at 3:46 in the 3-on-3 overtime period for a 4-3 victory.
“I knew it was going to be hard all weekend,” Jackson added. “They were playing for something a lot more than we were. … They were just too determined for us tonight.”
Saturday night, Kempf certainly qualified as the top Irish star, making 45 saves as he faced double-digit shots on goal in all three periods – 19 in the first period, 11 more in the second and 15 in the third. Offensively, graduate left wing and alternate captain Grant Silianoff tied the game at 1-1 early in the second period. Then senior left wing and captain Justin Janicke scored on the power play – his team-high 15th of the season – at 9:11 of the third period to cut Michigan State’s lead to 3-2 before the Spartans put the game away with two goals.
The Spartans dominated from start to finish in the first period, outshooting the Irish 20-9 in the period but only taking a 1-0 lead to the locker room. That goal, a 25-foot blast from the right faceoff circle by Vansaghi that banged off the pipe and past Kempf, came after the Spartans broke into the Irish defensive zone on a 3-on-2 break. Michigan State owned a 6-2 shot advantage at the 5:25 mark, but Notre Dame closed it when it tested Augustine four times on a power play beginning at 8:51. But Biondi (twice), Danny Nelson and Brennan Ali all were denied by Augustine.
Then at 15:52, Nelson and MSU’s Owen West went to the box for roughing after the whistle following Nelson’s shot and Augustine’s ninth save of the period. From that point on, the Spartans dominated with a 9-0 edge in shots – all of which Kempf turned aside while finishing with 19 saves for the period.
Notre Dame came out flying in the second period and got on the board at 0:32 when Silianoff poked a shot past Augustine after Hunter Strand passed the puck from behind the net. Carter Slaggert also got an assist on the goal.
But the Spartans came back with two goals in a span of 1:52. First, Tiernan Shoudy outraced Irish defenseman Henry Nelson to the back boards for the puck and centered the puck in front. But the puck bounced off Irish defenseman Jimmy Jurcev and into the Irish net to make it 2-1 at 4:23.
That goal took the breath away from Notre Dame and MSU capitalized at 6:15 when Vansaghi scored his second of the night from in close to make it 3-1. The Irish managed to outshoot the Spartans 14-13 in the period but couldn’t close the gap as Augustine made 13 stops. The period ended with MSU on a power play which the Irish killed off early in the third period.
Michigan State continued to pressure Kempf, who kept the Irish deficit at two until the Spartans’ Vansaghi was whistled off for tripping at 8:58. It didn’t take the Irish long to score on the resulting power play as Danny Nelson fed Cole Knuble along the boards. Knuble then got the puck down low to Biondi, who fed an unguarded Janicke, whose quick shot beat Augustine high into the net 13 seconds later at 9:11.
But the Spartans countered with a power-play goal of their own. With Silianoff in the box for slashing at 10:36, Kempf made four saves, the last on a shot by defenseman Andrews. But Tanner Kelly jumped on the rebound and beat Kempf to make it 4-2 at 11:57.
The score remained that way until Jackson pulled Kempf for an extra skater. But Shoudy scored his second of the game into the empty net at 17:31, sending many in the sellout crowd of 5,132 to the exit.
Following the game, both coaching staffs shook hands as did the players from both teams. Augustine’s players then skated over to shake the hand of Jackson, a two-time Michigan State alumnus.
Following a three-minute video of best wishes from many of his former players, Jackson joined his team and his associate head coaches Paul Pooley, Andy Slaggert and Brock Sheahan, who will succeed Jackson following this season as head coach, to sing the “Notre Dame, Our Mother” alma mater. Jackson then listened to the band play the “Notre Dame Victory March” one last time in Compton while he hugged his players.
Afterward in his post-game press conference, Jackson got emotional when asked if there was a favorite moment in his 20 years in South Bend, where he has won 417 times and needs just one more victory to reach 600 in his collegiate coaching career that included two NCAA titles at Lake Superior State in the early 1990s when his teams won 182 times.
“No, there’s too many,” the 69-year-old Jackson said as his voice, weakened by an overnight cold, began to crack. “There’s too many individual memories.
“I’ve said it all week long,” continued Jackson as he tried to clear his throat. “It’s about the people – it’s about my coaching staff; it’s about our players.
“There are so many guys I have relationships with – I’m so proud of them all,” the emotional Jackson continued through deep sniffles. “They are my life. It’s about the people.”
Those people couldn’t have asked for a better teacher, mentor and leader than Jeff Jackson.
MICHIGAN STATE 5, NOTRE DAME 2
At Lefty Smith Rink in Compton Family Ice Arena, South Bend, Ind.
Michigan State         1         2         2—5
Notre Dame             0         1         1—2
First Period—Scoring: 1. Michigan State, Shane Vansaghi 5 (Nicklas Andrews, Maxim Štrbák) EV 2:25. Penalties: Michigan State 2-4, Notre Dame 1-2.
Second Period—Scoring: 2. Notre Dame, Grant Silianoff 4 (Hunter Strand, Carter Slaggert) EV 0:32; 3. Michigan State, Tiernan Shoudy 7 (Matt Basgall, Vladislav Lukashevich) EV 4:23; 4. Michigan State, Shane Vansaghi 6 (Griffin Jurecki, Nathan Mackie) EV 6:15. Penalties: Michigan State 0-0 (2-4), Notre Dame 1-2 (2-4).
Third Period—Scoring: 5. Notre Dame, Justin Janicke 15 (Blake Biondi, Cole Knuble) PP 9:11; 6. Michigan State, Tanner Kelly 7 (Nicklas Anderson, Joey Larson) PP 11:57; 7. Michigan State, Tiernan Shoudy 8 (unassisted) EN 17:31. Penalties: Michigan State 1-2 (3-6), Notre Dame 1-2 (3-6).
Shots on goal: Michigan State 50 (20-13-17), Notre Dame 31 (9-14-8).
Goalie saves: Michigan State, Trey Augustine 29 (9-13-7); Notre Dame, Nicholas Kempf 45 (19-11-15).
Power-play opportunities: Michigan State 1 of 2, Notre Dame 1 of 2.
Faceoffs won: Michigan State 20 (10-10-0), Notre Dame 23 (13-10-0).
Blocked shots: Michigan State 8 (3-1-4), Notre Dame 10 (4-4-2).
Referees: Colin Kronforst and Jonathon Sitarski. Linesmen: Jake Davis and Pat Richardson. Attendance: 5,132 (4,852).
Records: Michigan State 24-6-4 overall, 15-5-4 Big Ten for 50 points; Notre Dame 10-23-1 overall, 4-19-1 Big Ten for 14 points.
BIG TEN STANDINGS AND SCHEDULE: (Numbers in parentheses before school are its standings in this week’s USCHO.com media poll, this week’s USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches poll and its current PairWise rating)
1t. (3/3/2) Michigan State 15-5-4, 50 points (24-6-4 overall, 121 GF, 70 GA)
1t. (2/2/3) Minnesota 15-6-3, 50 points (24-8-4 overall, 143 GF, 83 GA)
- (8/10/9) Ohio State 14-9-1, 42 points (21-11-2 overall, 110 GF, 83 GA)
- (11/11/11) Michigan 12-10-2, 36 points (18-13-3 overall, 105 GF, 107 GA)
- (15/16/14) Penn State 9-11-4, 33 points (18-12-4 overall, 116 GF, 103 GA)
- (rv/nr/29) Wisconsin 7-16-1, 27 points (12-19-3 overall, 100 GF, 103 GA)
- (nr/nr/45) Notre Dame 4-19-1, 14 points (10-23-1 overall, 93 GF, 119 GA)
Thursday, Feb. 27 result: Ohio State 2, Michigan 1 (OT).
Friday, Feb. 28 schedule: Michigan State 5, Notre Dame 2; Penn State 4, Minnesota 3 (OT); Michigan 4, Ohio State 3.
Saturday, March 1 schedule: Michigan State 5, Notre Dame 2; Minnesota 5, Penn State 3.
Sunday, March 2 schedule: U.S. Under-18 Team at Wisconsin, 7 p.m. (exhibition)
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Best-of-three quarterfinals
Friday, March 7
No. 7 Notre Dame (10-23-1) at No. 2 Minnesota (24-8-4), 8 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 6 Wisconsin (12-19-3) at No. 3 Ohio State (21-11-2), 7 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 5 Penn State (18-12-4) at No. 4 Michigan (18-13-3), 7 p.m. (B1G+)
Saturday, March 8
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 2 Minnesota, 8 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 6 Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 5 Penn State at No. 4 Michigan, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
Sunday, March 9 (if necessary)
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 2 Minnesota, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 6 Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 5 Penn State at No. 4 Michigan, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
Single-elimination semifinals
Saturday, March 15
Lowest remaining seed at No. 1 Michigan State, TBD (Big Ten Network)
Second-lowest remaining seed at Highest remaining seed, TBD (Big Ten Network)
Single-elimination championship
Saturday, March 22
Lowest remaining seed at Highest remaining seed, 7:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
NCAA TOURNAMENT
Sunday, March 23: Bracket announcement
Thursday-Sunday, March 27-30 (TBD): Northeast Regional at Manchester, N.H. (SNHU Arena); East Regional at Allentown, Pa. (PPL Center); Midwest Regional at Toledo, Ohio (Huntington Center); West Regional at Fargo, N.D. (Scheel Arena)
Thursday, April 10: NCAA Frozen Four semifinals at St. Louis (Enterprise Center)
Saturday, April 12: NCAA Frozen Four championship at St. Louis (Enterprise Center)
RESULTS FOR USCHO.com MEDIA POLL TEAMS AND OTHERS
- Boston College (Hockey East) (25-6-2) tied at New Hampshire 1-1 (OT) Saturday (Boston College won shootout 3-2). Next: March 9 vs. Merrimack; Hockey East Tournament.
- Minnesota (Big Ten) (24-8-4) won at No. 15 Penn State 5-3 Saturday. Next: March 7-9 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals vs. Notre Dame.
- Michigan State (Big Ten) (24-6-4) won at Notre Dame 5-2 Saturday. Next: March 16 Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
- Western Michigan (NCHC) (24-7-1) lost to No. 18 North Dakota 4-3 (OT) Saturday. Next: Friday, March 7 at Miami; Saturday, March 8 at Miami; NCHC Tournament.
- Maine (Hockey East) (21-6-5) beat Vermont 4-3 Saturday. Next: Friday, March 7 at No. 17 Massachusetts; Saturday, March 8 at No. 17 Massachusetts; Hockey East Tournament.
- Denver (NCHC) (24-9-1) lost to St. Cloud State 2-1 Saturday. Next: Friday, March 7 vs. No. 20 Colorado College; Saturday, March 8 at No. 20 Colorado College; NCHC Tournament.
- Providence (Hockey East) (20-8-5) won at Merrimack 2-1 Saturday. Next: Thursday, March 6 at No. 10 Boston University; Saturday, March 8 at Northeastern; Hockey East Tournament.
- Ohio State (Big Ten) (21-11-2) did not play Saturday. Next: March 7-9 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals vs. Wisconsin.
- Connecticut (Hockey East) (19-10-4) won at Northeastern 7-1 Saturday. Next: Thursday, March 6 at Vermont; Hockey East Tournament.
- Boston University (Hockey East) (18-12-2) was idle Saturday. Next: Thursday, March 6 vs. No. 7 Providence; Saturday, March 8 at Vermont; Hockey East Tournament.
- Michigan (Big Ten) (18-13-3) did not play Saturday. Next: March 7-9 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals vs. No. 15 Penn State.
- Arizona State (NCHC) (19-13-2) lost at Omaha 4-2 Saturday. Next: NCHC Tournament.
- Quinnipiac (ECAC) (22-10-2) won at St. Lawrence 4-0 Saturday. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
- Minnesota State (CCHA) (23-8-3) beat Bemidji State 5-1 Saturday. Next: March 7-9 CCHA playoffs vs. Northern Michigan.
- Penn State (Big Ten) (18-12-4) lost to No. 2 Minnesota 5-3 Saturday. Next: March 7-9 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals at No. 11 Michigan.
- UMass Lowell (Hockey East) (15-13-4) lost to No. 17 Massachusetts 5-3 Saturday. Next: Friday, March 7 vs. New Hampshire; Saturday, March 8 at New Hampshire; Hockey East Tournament.
- Massachusetts (Hockey East) (18-12-4) won at No. 16 UMass Lowell 5-3 Saturday. Next: Friday, March 7 vs. No. 5 Maine; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 5 Maine; Hockey East Tournament.
- North Dakota (NCHC) (18-13-2) won at No. 4 Western Michigan 4-3 (OT) Saturday. Next: Friday, March 7 vs. Omaha; Saturday, March 8 vs. Omaha; NCHC Tournament.
- Clarkson (ECAC) (21-10-3) lost to Princeton 4-3 (OT) Saturday. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
- Colorado College (NCHC) (17-14-1) did not play. Next: Friday, March 7 at No. 6 Denver; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 6 Denver; NCHC Tournament.
Also receiving votes
Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey) (20-12-2) did not play. Next: March 7-9 in Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals vs. American International.
Sacred Heart (Atlantic Hockey) (19-10-5) did not play. Next: March 7-9 in Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals vs. Air Force.
Omaha (NCHC) (17-14-1) beat No. 12 Arizona State 4-2 Saturday. Next: Friday, March 7 at No. 18 North Dakota; Saturday, March 8 at No. 18 North Dakota; NCHC Tournament.
Michigan Tech (CCHA) (16-15-3) lost at St. Thomas 2-1 Saturday. Next: March 7-9 CCHA playoffs.
Cornell (ECAC) (13-10-6) won at Rensselaer 6-0 Saturday. Next: March 7 or 8 ECAC Tournament vs. Yale.
New Hampshire (Hockey East) (11-15-6) tied No. 1 Boston College 1-1 (OT) Saturday (Boston College won shootout 3-2). Next: Friday, March 7 at No. 16 UMass Lowell; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 16 UMass Lowell; Hockey East Tournament.
Merrimack (Hockey East) (13-18-1) lost to No. 7 Providence 2-1 Saturday. Next: Thursday, March 6 vs. Northeastern; Saturday, March 8 at No. 1 Boston College; Hockey East Tournament.
Augustana (CCHA) (17-11-4) did not play. Next: March 7-9 CCHA playoffs.
Wisconsin (Big Ten) (12-19-3) did not play. Next: Sunday vs. U.S. Under-18 Team (exhibition); March 7-9 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals at Ohio State.
Others
Notre Dame (Big Ten) (10-23-1) lost to No. 3 Michigan State 5-2 Saturday. Next: March 7-9 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals at No. 2 Minnesota.
Northeastern (Hockey East) (11-18-3) lost to No. 9 Connecticut 7-1 Saturday. Next: Thursday, March 6 at Merrimack; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 7 Providence; Hockey East Tournament.
Vermont (Hockey East) (11-18-3) lost at No. 5 Maine 4-3 Saturday. Next: Thursday, March 6 vs. No. 9 Connecticut; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 10 Boston University; Hockey East Tournament.
St. Cloud State (NCHC) (13-18-1) won at No. 6 Denver 2-1 Saturday. Next: Friday, March 7 vs. Minnesota Duluth; Saturday, March 8 vs. Minnesota Duluth; NCHC Tournament.
Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) (12-17-3) tied Miami 1-1 (OT) Saturday (Minnesota Duluth won shootout 2-1). Next: Friday, March 7 at St. Cloud State; Saturday, March 8 at St. Cloud State; NCHC Tournament.
Miami (NCHC) (3-26-3) tied at Minnesota Duluth 1-1 (OT) Saturday (Minnesota Duluth won shootout 2-1). Next: Friday, March 7 vs. No. 4 Western Michigan; Saturday, March 8 vs. No. 4 Western Michigan; NCHC Tournament.
St. Thomas (CCHA) (16-13-5) beat Michigan Tech 2-1 Saturday. Next: March 7-9 CCHA playoffs.
Bemidji State (CCHA) (13-16-5) lost at No. 14 Minnesota State 5-1 Saturday. Next: March 7-9 CCHA playoffs.
Bowling Green (CCHA) (16-13-4) beat Lake Superior State 5-3 Saturday. Next: March 7-9 CCHA playoffs.
Lake Superior State (CCHA) (12-20-2) lost at Bowling Green 5-3 Saturday. Next: March 7-9 CCHA playoffs.
Ferris State (CCHA) (13-18-3) tied Northern Michigan 4-4 (OT) Saturday (Northern Michigan won shootout 2-1). Next: March 7-9 CCHA playoffs.
Northern Michigan (CCHA) (5-27-2) tied at Ferris State 4-4 (OT) Saturday (Northern Michigan won shootout 2-1). Next: March 7-9 CCHA playoffs at Minnesota State.
Union (ECAC) (19-13-3) lost to Colgate 5-1 Saturday. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
Colgate (ECAC) (18-13-3) won at Union 5-1 Saturday. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
Rensselaer (ECAC) (12-20-2) lost to Cornell 6-0 Saturday. Next: March 7 ECAC Tournament at Harvard.
St. Lawrence (ECAC) (9-23-2) lost to No. 13 Quinnipiac 4-0 Saturday. Next: March 8 ECAC Tournament at Dartmouth.
Princeton (ECAC) (12-14-3) won at No. 19 Clarkson 4-3 (OT) Saturday. Next: March 7 ECAC Tournament at Brown.
Harvard (ECAC) (11-15-3) tied at Brown 3-3 (OT) Saturday (Brown won shootout 2-0). Next: March 7 ECAC Tournament vs. Rensselaer.
Brown (ECAC) (13-13-3) tied Harvard 3-3 (OT) Saturday (Brown won shootout 2-0). Next: March 7 ECAC Tournament vs. Princeton.
Yale (ECAC) (6-20-3) lost to Dartmouth 5-1 Saturday. Next: March 7 or 8 ECAC Tournament at Cornell.
Dartmouth (ECAC) (15-12-2) won at Yale 5-1 Saturday. Next: March 8 ECAC Tournament vs. St. Lawrence.
Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) (18-14-2) did not play. Next: March 7-9 in Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals vs. No. 6 Canisius.
Niagara (Atlantic Hockey) (17-14-3) did not play. Next: March 7-9 vs. Army in Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals.
Army (Atlantic Hockey) (14-17-2) did not play. Next: March 7-9 at Niagara in Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals.
RIT (Atlantic Hockey) (10-23-2) has completed season.
American International (Atlantic Hockey) (12-21-2) did not play. Next: March 7-9 Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals at Holy Cross.
Robert Morris (Atlantic Hockey) (10-20-5) lost at Air Force 4-3 (2OT) Saturday in Atlantic Hockey Tournament and has completed season.
Air Force (Atlantic Hockey) (15-19-3) beat Robert Morris 4-3 (2OT) Saturday in Atlantic Hockey Tournament. Next: March 7-9 Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals at Sacred Heart.
Mercyhurst (Atlantic Hockey) (4-27-4) lost at Canisius 2-0 Saturday in Atlantic Hockey Tournament and has completed season.
Canisius (Atlantic Hockey) (12-21-2) beat Mercyhurst 2-0 Saturday in American Hockey Tournament. Next: March 7-9 Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals at Bentley.
Long Island (Independent) (20-12-2) beat Alaska 2-0 Saturday.
Alaska (Independent) (12-14-6) lost at Long Island 2-0 Saturday to complete season.
Stonehill (Independent) (12-22-0) has completed season.
Lindenwood (Independent) (8-22-2) has completed season.
Alaska Anchorage (Independent) (6-23-5) has completed season.