Hockey Recap: Michigan drops a high-scoring battle to Notre Dame on Saturday

Defense was optional on Saturday night, as the Michigan hockey team dropped its series finale against Notre Dame in a game that saw 11 total goals scored. Here’s a rundown of all the action:

Entering the night off back-to-back victories, the Michigan men’s hockey team was looking to put away Notre Dame for a series sweep on Saturday. Things didn’t go quite as planned, as the Wolverines lost in a high-scoring affair, 7-4.

Riding the momentum from Friday’s victory, Michigan got on the scoreboard nearly 12 minutes into the first period. It was Evan Werner scoring the game’s first goal after the Irish gave the puck away in their own zone.

Michigan was quickly put on the power play just 40 seconds later, but that’s when Notre Dame went on the attack. Notre Dame’s Justin Janicke would score the shorthanded goal just seconds after the Irish were assessed a penalty for high-sticking. Not to be content with a tie game, Paul Fischer scored in the waning minutes of the period to give Notre Dame a 2-1 advantage at the break.

As the second period began, the Irish stayed on the attack. Hunter Strand scored at the 5:37 mark of the period to make it a 3-1 game. Michigan’s reeling defense was attacked once again just 15 seconds later, as Janicke would score his second goal of the game to put his team up 4-1. After four unanswered goals, Logan Stein came in to replace Cameron Korpi in net for Michigan, and things didn’t get any better. Notre Dame scored quickly once again to grab a commanding 5-1 lead. The Irish had scored three goals in the span of 32 seconds to completely take over the game.

Looking to cut into the lead, Michigan was put on the power play thanks to a roughing penalty from Notre Dame. William Whitelaw was able to find the back of the net the a power play goal, while Philipe Lapointe would score a goal of his own just 32 seconds later. All of a sudden, it was a 5-3 game and Michigan had life heading into the second intermission.

Notre Dame squashed Michigan’s momentum with a goal of its own eight minutes into the third period. Now trailing 6-3, Michigan was going to need offense in a hurry, and the door was opened thanks to another Irish penalty at the 10:58 mark. T.J. Hughes would score on the power play to make it 6-4, but it was too little too late. Notre Dame would hold on the defensive end, and Janicke scored an empty net goal to secure a hat trick and the 7-4 win for the Irish.

With the loss on Saturday, Michigan’s record dropped to 13-8-1 overall and 7-5 in the Big Ten. It won’t get any easier next weekend, as Michigan will play a home-and-home against No. 1 Michigan State . The teams will do battle in Ann Arbor on Friday night before heading to East Lansing on Saturday.