SAY’S 45 SAVES NOT ENOUGH AS STRUGGLING IRISH FALL 2-1 IN OVERTIME AT NO. 7 MICHIGAN
By JOHN FINERAN
Looking to shake up his team’s struggling offense, Notre Dame hockey coach Jeff Jackson shuffled his forward lines Friday night when the No. 20 Fighting Irish took on No. 7 Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich.
The changes didn’t help as the Irish wasted a school-best 45-save performance by junior goaltender Owen Say when Michigan’s Evan Werner scored on his own rebound 2:02 into the 3-on-3 overtime period to give the Wolverines a 2-1 Big Ten Hockey victory before a capacity crowd of 5,800 watching at the Red Berenson Rink in the Yost Ice Arena.
Jackson moved sophomore leading scorer Cole Knuble from center of his own line to right wing on center Danny Nelson’s line with left wing Brennan Ali, who scored at 6:29 of the second period to give the Irish a brief 1-0 lead before Michigan’s Kienan Draper evened the score at 15:48 of the period and Werner won it to give the Wolverines two of the three league points available for the evening. The two teams conclude their series Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Jackson moved senior center Hunter Strand between senior left wing Justin Janicke and graduate right wing Blake Biondi and had graduate Ian Murphy move into the center slot between Grant Silianoff and Maddox Fleming on the third line. With fourth-line center Jayden Davis sitting out the game with an upper-body injury, sophomore Carter Slaggert centered for senior left wing Tyler Carpenter and freshman right wing Jack Larrigan.
None of the changes seemed to help as Notre Dame (5-4-0 overall, 1-2-0 Big Ten for 3 points) managed just 19 shots total against grad-transfer (from Ferris State) goaltender Logan Stein of Michigan, which has now won three straight games after sweeping No. 5 Boston University last weekend in Boston.
Indeed, the Wolverines (6-2-1 overall, 1-0-0 Big Ten for 2 points) had 19 shots in the second period alone against Say, who stopped 18 of them after making 13 saves in the first period, 11 more in the third and three more in the overtime to keep his teammates in the game. Not only did coach Brandon Naurato’s Wolverines outshoot the Irish 47-19, but the Wolverines also won 51 of 79 faceoffs against the Irish, who entered the game with a faceoff-win percentage of .573, the second best in the nation.
It was the second straight defeat for Notre Dame and for Say, who now has sparkling 1.49 goals-against average and a national-leading .960 saves percentage but is just 4-2-0 in six games.
The Irish had big stretches in the game during which they went without a shot on goal. In the first period, they went 8:39 between shots by Slaggert and Danny Nelson, who would eventually lead the Irish with six shots on goal. Three other Irish skaters – Biondi and defensemen Paul Fischer and Michael Mastrodomenico – had two shots each.
After being outshot 13-8 in the first period, the Wolverines had an early 5-2 shot edge in the second period when they came into the Irish zone on a 3-on-1 break. Mastrodomenico, who was back in the lineup after missing last weekend’s series against Wisconsin with an upper-body injury, broke up the Michigan rush and fed a long pass to the streaking Ali, who led a 2-on-1 break and beat Stein at 6:29 for a 1-0 Irish lead.
The Irish had two power-play chances to increase their lead but managed just two shots at Stein. Maddox Fleming’s shot a 12:43 of the second period would be the last one the Michigan goalie would face as Michigan had the final 13 shots on goal, 12 of which Say stopped. The one he didn’t was made by Draper, who tied the game at 1-1 at 15:48 with assists from Josh Eernisse and Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen. For the period, Michigan outshot the Irish 19-6.
Michigan had a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity for 1:05 early in the third period but Say stood his ground even as the Irish started the period without a shot in the first 7:49 – a span of 15:06 over the two periods.
Late in the third period, Danny Nelson tested Stein twice but the Michigan goalie turned both shots away at 17:02 and 17:15.
In the 3-on-3 overtime, Say made stops on Michigan shots by Michael Hage and Jacob Truscott before Irish defenseman Axel Kumlin’s shot against Stein was off target. The Wolverines rushed back up ice and Werner got a shot off that Say turned aside at 1:59. With Notre Dame’s Janicke trying to get back to defend, Werner beat him to the puck and scored the game-winner.
MICHIGAN 2, NOTRE DAME 1 (OT)
At Red Berenson Rink/Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor
Notre Dame 0 1 0 0—1
Michigan 0 1 0 1—2
First Period—Scoring: None. Penalties: Notre Dame 1-2, Michigan 0-0.
Second Period—Scoring: 1. Notre Dame, Brennan Ali 2 (Michael Mastrodomenico) EV 6:29; 2. Michigan, Kienan Draper 2 (Josh Eernisse, Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen) EV 15:48. Penalties: Notre Dame 2-4 (3-6), Michigan 3-6 (3-6).
Third Period—Scoring: None. Penalties: Notre Dame 2-4 (5-10), Michigan 1-2 (4-8).
Overtime—Scoring: 3. Michigan, Evan Werner 4 (unassisted) 3-on-3 EV 2:02. Penalties: Notre Dame 0-0 (5-10), Michigan 0-0 (4-8).
Shots on goal: Notre Dame 19 (8-6-5-0), Michigan 47 (13-19-11-4).
Goalie saves: Notre Dame, Owen Say 45 (13-18-11-3), Michigan, Logan Stein 18 (8-5-5-0).
Power-play opportunities: Notre Dame 0 of 3, Michigan 0 of 4.
Faceoffs won: Notre Dame 28 (10-8-9-1), Michigan 51 (17-20-13-1).
Blocked shots: Notre Dame 19 (10-3-6-0), Michigan 14 (4-8-2-0).
Referees: Sean Fernandez and Colin Kronforst. Linesmen: Justin Cornell and Jake Davis.
Attendance: 5,800 (5,800).
Records: Notre Dame 5-4-0 overall, 1-2-0 Big Ten for 3 points; Michigan 6-2-1 overall, 1-0-0 Big Ten for 2 points.
BIG TEN STANDINGS: (Numbers in parenthesis before school are its rankings in this week’s media and coaches polls): 1. (3/T3) MINNESOTA 3-0-0, 9 points (8-1-0 overall);
T2. (13/12) OHIO STATE 2-1-0, 5 points (7-1-1 overall); T2. (rv/rv) WISCONSIN 1-4-0, 5 points (2-7-0 overall); T4. (4/T3) MICHIGAN STATE 1-0-0, 3 points (6-1-0 overall); T4. (20/rv) NOTRE DAME 1-2-0, 3 points (5-4-0 overall); 6. (7/7) MICHIGAN 1-0-0, 2 points (6-2-1 overall); 7. (19/19) PENN STATE 0-2-0, 0 points (4-3-0 overall).
Friday’s schedule: Michigan 2, Notre Dame 1 (OT); Michigan State 4, Ohio State 2; Minnesota 3, Wisconsin 2. (Penn State is idle).
Saturday’s schedule: Notre Dame at Michigan, 7 p.m.; Ohio State at Michigan State, 6 p.m.; Minnesota at Wisconsin, 7 p.m. (Penn State is idle).
HOW TEAMS IN USCHO.com MEDIA POLL HAVE FARED THIS WEEK
- Denver(NCHC) (9-0-0) beat Lindenwood Friday, 4-1. Next: Saturday vs. Lindenwood.
- Boston College(Hockey East) (6-1-0) beat No. 5 Maine Friday, 3-2. Next: Sunday vs. No. 5 Maine.
- Minnesota(Big Ten) (8-1-0) beat Wisconsin Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday at Wisconsin.
- Michigan State(Big Ten) (6-1-0) beat No. 13 Ohio State Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday vs. No. 13 Ohio State.
- Maine(Hockey East) (6-1-1) lost at No. 2 Boston College Friday, 3-2. Next: Sunday at No. 2 Boston College.
- Cornell(ECAC) (2-0-1) tied Yale Friday, 2-2 (Yale won shootout, 1-0). Next: Saturday vs. Brown.
- Michigan(Big Ten) (6-2-1) beat No. 20 Notre Dame Friday, 2-1 (OT). Next: Saturday vs. No. 20 Notre Dame.
- Colorado College(NCHC) (7-0-0) beat Arizona State Friday, 4-3 (OT). Next: Saturday vs. Arizona State.
- Boston University(Hockey East) (4-4-0) lost to No. 17 UMass Lowell Friday, 5-3. Next: Saturday at No. 17 UMass Lowell.
- North Dakota(NCHC) (4-4-0) beat Minnesota Duluth Friday, 7-3. Next: Saturday at Minnesota Duluth.
- Providence(Hockey East) (5-1-2) tied Northeastern Friday, 2-2 (Northeastern won shootout, 1-0). Next: Saturday at Northeastern.
- St. Cloud State(NCHC) (7-3-0) beat Miami Friday, 3-2 (OT). Next: Saturday vs. Miami.
- Ohio State(Big Ten) (7-1-1) lost at No. 4 Michigan State Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday at No. 4 Michigan State.
- Western Michigan(NCHC) (4-1-0) beat Omaha Friday, 2-1. Next: Saturday at Omaha.
- Quinnipiac(ECAC) (3-4-0) lost to Dartmouth Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday vs. Harvard.
- Minnesota State(CCHA) (7-4-0) beat St. Thomas Friday, 5-3. Next: Saturday vs. St. Thomas.
- UMass Lowell(Hockey East) (6-1-0) beat No. 9 Boston University Friday, 5-3. Next: Saturday vs. No. 9 Boston University.
- Massachusetts(Hockey East) (4-3-2) tied Vermont Friday, 3-3 (Vermont won shootout, 1-0). Next: Saturday at Vermont.
- Penn State (Big Ten) (4-3-0) is idle this week.
- Notre Dame(Big Ten) (5-4-0) lost at No. 7 Michigan Friday, 2-1 (OT). Next: Saturday at No. 7 Michigan.
Others receiving votes
Union (ECAC) (6-1-1) tied Alaska Fairbanks Friday, 3-3 (Union won shootout, 2-1). Next: Saturday vs. Union.
Dartmouth (ECAC) (3-0-0) beat No. 15 Quinnipiac Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday at Princeton.
Niagara (Atlantic Hockey) (4-4-2) lost at Army West Point Friday, 1-0. Next: Saturday at Army West Point.
Harvard (ECAC) (1-1-0) beat Princeton Friday, 4-3 (OT). Next: Saturday at No. 15 Quinnipiac.
Omaha (NCHC) (2-5-0) lost to No. 14 Western Michigan Friday, 2-1. Next: Saturday vs. No. 14 Western Michigan.
Arizona State (NCHC) (3-5-1) lost at No. 8 Colorado College Friday, 4-3 (OT). Next: Saturday at No. 8 Colorado College.
Clarkson (ECAC) (5-3-1) was idle Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Stonehill.
Augustana (CCHA) (4-5-0) lost to Bemidji State Friday, 4-3 (OT). Next: Saturday vs. Bemidji State.
Connecticut (HEA) (5-4-1) lost at Merrimack Friday, 4-1. Next: Saturday vs. Merrimack.
Bemidji State (CCHA) (4-4-0) beat Augustana Friday, 4-3 (OT). Next: Saturday at Augustana.
Wisconsin (B10) (2-7-0) lost to No. 3 Minnesota Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday vs. No. 3 Minnesota.
Michigan Tech (CCHA) (5-2-0) beat Ferris State Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday at Ferris State.
New Hampshire (HEA) (2-3-1) was idle Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Long Island.
Northeastern (HEA) (1-3-2) tied No. 11 Providence Friday, 2-2 (Northeastern won shootout, 1-0). Next: Saturday vs. No. 11 Providence.
Bowling Green (CCHA) (5-3-0) is idle this week.
Brown (ECAC) (0-1-0) lost at Colgate Friday, 5-3. Next: Saturday at No. 6 Cornell.
OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK
Monday, Nov. 4
Robert Morris 5, Mercyhurst 2 (Atlantic Hockey)
Friday, Nov. 8
Bentley 5, RIT 0 (Atlantic Hockey)
Sacred Heart 4, Mercyhurst 3 (Atlantic Hockey)
American International 3, Holy Cross 2 (Atlantic Hockey)
Lake Superior State 5, Northern Michigan 0 (CCHA)
Air Force 2, Canisius 0 (Atlantic Hockey)
St. Lawrence 4, Simon Fraser 0 (exhibition)
Saturday, Nov. 9
Canisius at Air Force, 3:05 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
RIT at Bentley, 4 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
Lake Superior State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m. (CCHA)
Sacred Heart at Mercyhurst, 7 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
American International at Holy Cross, 7 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
Yale at Colgate, 7 p.m. (ECAC)