Notre Dame Hockey Beats Penn State in a Shootout at Wrigley

The Irish earned the extra point after playing to a tie through overtime

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish hockey team played outdoors on Friday night at Wrigley Field as part of the Big Ten Frozen Confines Series. The Irish played the Penn State Nittany Lions in their first series of the season in a matchup of conference bottom dwellers. In a tight game that went through overtime tied, it was the Irish who finally came out on top in a shootout.

Game Summary

First Period

The first period started off slowly, with both teams trying to figure each other out and get used to the outdoor ice and different sightlines. Eventually though, as the offenses settled in, they began to test the goalies who were forced to come up with some big saves in new conditions. Notre Dame found the breakthrough though at 7 and a half minutes in when Grant Silianoff created a turnover behind the net and passed it out to Zach Plucinski. Plucinski turned and found Jack Larrigan across the slot for a one time chance that was saved, but Silianoff had made his way to the front of the net and the rebound bounced right to him to fire home into an empty net. Silianoff celebrated by dropping to a knee and swinging for the fences, an apt celly given the venue.

Penn State got right to work and tied the game just a minute later but late in the period Notre Dame earned a power play and took advantage. Cole Knuble leapt at the blue line to keep the puck in the zone and passed it forward to Blake Biondi. Biondi backhanded a pass to center ice where it bounced off a skate or two and fell to Justin Janicke at the right faceoff circle. Janicke quickly controlled and the released a shot that found the back of the net for the Irish lead.

Second Period

The second period of the game was much quieter than the first, with significantly fewer shots on goal and almost no scoring. It looked like the Irish would go into the second intermission holding onto their lead but with just over 30 second left Penn State found the equalizer and the period ended 2-2.

Third Period

Penn State started the third period right where they finished the second, scoring 10 second into the frame to take the lead. The third was the only period where the Irish were outshot by the Nittany Lions but past the midway point the Irish were still able to find the equalizer. A shot from the point that was blocked led to a bit of a scrum in front of the net and eventually the puck landed on the stick of Carter Slaggert who put it into the net for the tie game.

Overtime

Overtime was uneventful, with neither team creating many chances or getting many shots on goal. Nobody was able to score and the game officially ended in a tie, but the two teams went next to a shootout to determine who got the extra point in the Big Ten standings.

Shootout

The shootout started strong, with Penn State scoring on their first attempts. Notre Dame equalized in round two and then both teams went cold. Eventually, in round 8 with no other goals scored, it was Ryan Helliwell who scored for the win by faking the forehand shot and then going to his backhand.

Scoring

ND: Grant Silianoff (2) at 7:29 in the 1st assisted by Jack Larrigan and Zach Plucinski

PSU: Tyler Paquette (2) at 8:25 in the 1st assisted by Keaton Peters and Arsenii Sergeev

ND: Justin Janicke (6) on the PP at 19:19 in the 1st assisted by Blake Biondi and Cole Knuble

PSU: Matt DiMarsico (6) at 9:28 in the 2nd assisted by Charlie Cerrato and Aiden Fink

PSU: Aiden Fink (9) at 0:10 in the 3rd assisted by Dane Dowiak

ND: Carter Slaggert (1) at 1:02 in the 3rd assisted by Grant Silianoff and Jack Larrigan

Penalties

ND: Jimmy Jurcev 2 for hooking at 13:19 in the 1st

PSU: Carter Schade 2 for interference at 17:45 in the 1st

ND: Jayden Davis 2 for tripping at 14:38 in the 2nd

PSU: Alex Servagno 2 for high-sticking at 7:59 in the 3rd

Goalies

ND: Nicholas Kempf made 39 saves on 42 shots against for the win

PSU: Arsenii Sergeev saved 43 of 46 shots faced in the loss

Up Next

Game two between Notre Dame and Penn State on Sunday night. This time they will play back in South Bend at Compton Ice Arena to close out the series.