Notre Dame Hockey Opens Big Ten Play With Win Over Wisconsin

The Irish went to overtime for their first conference game of the season

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish hockey team started Big Ten play on Friday night by welcoming the Wisconsin Badgers to South Bend for two games. Game one was a closely contested matchup with the Irish needing overtime to come away with the win.

Game Summary

First Period

Notre Dame started the game on the front foot, coming out with the offensive edge in the first 20 minutes. At the seven minute mark the Nelson brothers combined to start the scoring and give Notre Dame a lead. Danny grabbed a loose puck behind the Wisconsin net and found Henry with a pass at the left faceoff circle. Henry was able to one time the puck home for the first goal off the game.

Second Period

Things tilted the other way in the second period, with Wisconsin taking over a huge advantage. They put 21 shots on net in the middle frame and scored both of their goals in the period. The first goal tied the game at the 15 minute mark and then the Badgers took the lead just over three minutes later. Notre Dame didn’t let the lead last long though, scoring 30 seconds later to tie the game again. After dumping the puck into the zone Notre Dame worked it around to eventually find Axel Kumlin at the point. He took a shot that was deflected in front and into the net by Brennan Ali.

Third Period

The third period saw lots of attempts but neither team was able to find the game winning goal. Owen say was on top of his game, making an additional 13 saves in the third period. With just twenty seconds left in regulation Notre Dame took a penalty, going down a man. A late flurry from Wisconsin couldn’t find the equalizer but they carried the man advantage into the extra period.

Overtime

Just as Notre Dame was about to kill off the penalty Wisconsin committed one of their own. a few seconds of 3-on-3 hockey led to an Irish 4-on-3 advantage. With the extra man Cole Knuble took the puck at the faceoff circle and headed towards the net taking on a defender one-on-one. When he reached the slot he let go a wrist shot that beat the goalie near side for the win.

Scoring

ND: Henry Nelson (2) at 7:38 in the 1st assisted by Danny Nelson and Blake Biondi

WIS: Ryan Botterill (1) on the power play at 15:02 in the 2nd assisted by Logan Hensler and Tyson Dyck

WIS: Owen Lindmark (1) at 18:16 in the 2nd assisted by Ben Dexheimer and Kyle Kukkonen

ND: Brennan Ali (1) at 18:47 in the 2nd assisted by Axel Kumlin and Ryan Helliwell

ND: Cole Knuble (6) on the power play at 2:11 of overtime assisted by Justin Janicke and Paul Fischer

Penalties

WIS: Christian Fitzgerald 2 for boarding at 13:40 in the 1st

ND: Carter Slaggert 2 for interference at 19:12 in the 1st

ND: Paul Fischer 2 for interference at 14:08 in the 2nd

ND: Cole Knuble 2 for holding at 3:32 in the 3rd

WIS: Owen Lindmark 2 for slashing at 6:59 in the 3rd

ND: Jaedon Kerr 2 for tripping at 6:59 in the 3rd

ND: Zach Plucinski 2 for elbowing at 19:39 in the 3rd

WIS: Gavin Morrissey 2 for tripping at 1:15 in overtime

Goaltending

ND: Owen Say saved 42 of 44 shots in the win

WIS: Tommy Scarfone made 21 saves on 24 shots in the loss

Up Next

Game two between these two teams with Notre Dame trying to sweep their first conference matchup of the season.