Notre Dame hockey struggled to find the back of the net in a weekend series at Compton Family Ice Arena, falling to Michigan 5-3 on Friday and 2-1 in overtime on Saturday. The Irish generated scoring chances throughout both games but were unable to consistently convert against a disciplined and efficient Wolverines roster. Notre Dame is now 3-4-1 overall and 0-2-0 in Big Ten play, while Michigan improved to 9-1 and 2-0 in conference competition.
Friday’s contest featured a high-tempo first period in which Michigan opened the scoring and maintained puck possession in the neutral zone. The Wolverines built a 4-2 lead by the second intermission, executing clean breakouts and cycling the puck effectively along the boards. Will Horcoff led Michigan with two goals, while T.J. Hughes contributed two assists. Notre Dame generated scoring opportunities through slot chances and net-front pressure, with junior forwards Danny Nelson and Evan Werner recording goals. The Irish recorded 33 shots on net to Michigan’s 27, winning 30 of 49 faceoffs and blocking 21 shots, but Michigan goalie J.J. Ivankovic turned away 30 saves to preserve the lead. Despite steady forechecking and strong defensive zone coverage, Notre Dame could not overcome timely Wolverine finishes.
Saturday’s matchup was tighter, with both teams trading scoring chances throughout regulation. Michigan opened the scoring midway through the first period when Horcoff beat sophomore goaltender Nicholas Kempf with a clean finish from behind the net. Notre Dame answered later in the period when Danny Nelson found the back of the net off a feed from his brother, junior defenseman Henry Nelson, evening the score at 1-1. The Irish applied sustained pressure in the offensive zone, creating rebound opportunities and high-danger chances from the slot, but Ivankovic recorded 19 saves to keep the Wolverines ahead. Strong puck retrievals and disciplined backchecking by Notre Dame limited high-quality Michigan opportunities, but the series’ second game required overtime after both teams failed to break the deadlock. Michigan scored the eventual game-winner, taking the 2-1 victory. Notre Dame outshot Michigan 40-20 and controlled 30 of 61 faceoffs, while blocking 11 shots over the course of the contest.
Over the weekend, Notre Dame’s defensive corps emphasized shot-blocking, defensive zone coverage and disrupting Michigan’s puck movement. Players contributed to limiting high-danger chances from the point and slot, with effective stick work and gap control. The Irish maintained solid forechecking to generate turnovers and create rebound opportunities in front of the net. Penalty killing was disciplined, with Notre Dame committing only three minor penalties across the two games, while Michigan was limited to a 4-for-7 conversion rate on Friday and 0-for-3 on Saturday.
Notre Dame’s offensive attack demonstrated flashes of depth and balance. Danny Nelson scored in both games, Werner contributed with secondary assists and puck battles in the offensive zone and junior defenseman Paul Fischer and graduate forward Sutter Muzzatti recorded points, while helping sustain pressure along the boards. Notre Dame executed several clean zone entries and cycling plays, maintaining time of possession in Michigan’s end. Finishing proved a challenge, though, leaving Kempf as the standout performer with 22 saves on Friday and 38 on Saturday.
Michigan’s roster showcased efficiency and depth. Horcoff tallied three goals across the series, while Hughes, Fantilli and Perron contributed multiple assists. The Wolverines executed quick breakouts from their defensive zone, maintained a strong net-front presence and capitalized on scoring opportunities created from clean puck movement and high-danger slot chances. Ivankovic’s goaltending and Michigan’s disciplined defensive coverage limited Notre Dame’s top lines and forced the Irish to generate offense primarily from perimeter shots and rebound chances.
Faceoff performance was consistent for Notre Dame, winning 30 draws in both games, giving the team opportunities to control puck possession early in offensive sequences. While the Irish created scoring chances and pressured the Michigan defense through sustained cycles and net-front screens, missed opportunities on odd-man rushes and ineffective power-play execution kept the score close but ultimately tilted in Michigan’s favor. Notre Dame went 2-for-5 on the power play Friday and 0-for-3 Saturday, struggling to find shooting lanes and maintain puck control against the Wolverine penalty kill.
The weekend highlighted Notre Dame’s competitiveness against a top-tier Big Ten opponent. The Irish demonstrated strong backchecking, forechecking and defensive zone coverage while generating rebound opportunities and time in the offensive zone. However, timely Michigan scoring and a lack of finishing on high-danger chances prevented the Irish from escaping Compton with a victory.
Notre Dame now turns to refining offensive execution and maintaining disciplined defensive play as it continues its Big Ten schedule.
Final Scores:
Friday, Oct. 31: Michigan 5, Notre Dame 3
Saturday, Nov. 1: Michigan 2, Notre Dame 1 (OT)
