The Irish are in a very rough skid to start conference play
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish hockey team returned home on Friday night to open a series with the #4 ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers. Notre Dame is coming off five straight losses, all to conference opponents, and have a tough weekend task to right the ship.
Game Summary
First Period
Notre Dame started strong and opened the scoring early on Friday night. Blake Biondi picked up the puck just inside the Irish defensive zone and carried it out and through center ice. After entering the offensive zone he slowed and dropped the puck to the trailing Hunter Strand. Strand controlled briefly before firing a wrist shot that found the back of the net for the lead.
END 1 | @biondi_blake7 and @hunter_strand connect early in the first to open the scoring.
It’s a 1-1 game through 20 minutes played.
https://t.co/esDX1FeY8P
https://t.co/5io1R1jDYc#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/1WxZsDNakr— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) November 23, 2024
The Irish lead lasted only a few minutes though as Minnesota found an equalizer in short order. A very evenly contested first period ended tied up at 1.
Second Period
Minnesota wasted no time taking the lead in the second frame, scoring just 38 seconds into the period. They added another goal 14 minutes later to extend the lead to two goals. A few minutes later Notre Dame cut the lead in half when Jack Larrigan scored his first career goal. Minnesota restored their two goal lead late though, scoring on the power play with only 30 seconds left in the period.
Third Period
Minnesota added another power play goal less than two minutes into the period to extend to a three goal lead. Blake Biondi kept the Irish comeback hopes alive though, scoring with just under five minutes left for his second point of the night. Minnesota sealed the game with an empty net goal though to win the game 6-3.
Scoring
ND: Hunter Strand (3) at 2:56 in the 1st assisted by Blake Biondi
MINN: Brody Lamb (9) at 6:30 in the 1st assisted by August Fallon and Aaron Huglen
MINN: Sam Rinzel (5) on the PP at 0:38 in the 2nd assisted by Jimmy Snuggerud and Oliver Moore
MINN: Oliver Moore (3) at 14:36 in the 2nd assisted by Matthew Wood
ND: Jack Larrigan (1) at 17:34 in the 2nd assisted by Carter Slaggert and Ryan Helliwell
MINN: Sam Rinzel (6) on the PP at 19:36 in the 2nd assisted by Matthew Wood and Jimmy Snuggerud
MINN: Aaron Huglen (3) on the PP at 1:44 in the 3rd assisted by Mike Koster an Luke Mittlestadt
ND: Blake Biondi (4) at 15:44 in the 3rd assisted by Cole Knuble and Danny Nelson
MINN: Connor Kurth (8) EN at 18:25 in the 3rd unassisted
Penalties
ND: Brennan Ali 2 for cross-checking at 19:46 in the 1st
ND: Maddox Fleming 2 for high-sticking at 2:05 in the 2nd
MINN: Leo Gruba 2 for holding at 11:05 in the 2nd
ND: Jaedon Kerr 2 for hooking at 15:28 in the 2nd
ND: Justin Janicke 5 for kneeing at 18:24 in the 2nd
ND: Justin Janicke game misconduct at 18:24 in the 2nd
MINN: Leo Gruba 2 for slashing at 10:46 in the 3rd
MINN: Ryan Chesley 2 for charging at 14:37 in the 3rd
Goalies
ND: Owen Say 32 saves on 37 shots against in the loss
MINN: Nathan Airey saved 25 of 28 shots for the win
Up Next
Game two on Saturday night in as close as a must win as the Irish can get this early in the season.