The Irish traveled to face No. 13 Wisconsin for the second time this season and played their best hockey of the year, despite losing both games. The Irish returned from a three goal deficit late in Friday’s game to force overtime, where Wisconsin scraped by with the game-winning goal less than two minutes in. In Saturday’s matchup, each Badgers’ goal was answered shortly after by one from the Irish, before senior forward Christian Fitzgerald scored the go-ahead late in the third period that gave the Badgers the win.
Both Friday and Saturday’s games were physical, and the referees established early into the series they would only award penalties for intense play. The decision was understandable after the boiling intensity felt when the teams last played each other, resulting in disqualifications and misconducts. However, the style of play calling caused frustration on both sides who felt as if they were slighted in getting power plays, especially in Saturday’s game where each team only had one power play all night.
Game One
The sold-out crowd in Wisconsin’s Kohl Arena was not expecting Notre Dame to come out of the tunnel with every intention of settling the conflict with the Badgers, and the underestimation allowed the Irish to find confidence in their play early on. Both teams were eager to get on the scoreboard, with six goals scored in the first period alone. Wisconsin got on the board first with two goals within 20 seconds, the first a power play goal by freshman defenseman Luke Osburn through traffic on the blindside of Irish sophomore goaltender Nick Kempf. The Badgers were fired up, and freshman forward Grady Deering used the electric atmosphere of their home barn to put the Badgers up 2-0.
The Irish were not unsettled by the back-to-back goals, and junior forward Evan Werner scored a beauty of a power play goal two minutes later to get the Irish on the board. Halfway through the first period, Wisconsin sophomore forward Gavin Morrissey landed a snipe from the left face-off circle to give the Badgers another power play goal and to reestablish their two goal lead. 12 seconds later, junior forward Danny Nelson kept the Irish within one goal after beating Badgers’ freshman goaltender Daniel Hauser on the left side of the crease.
After the halfway mark of the first period, Deering scored his second and final goal of the game after beating Kempf on the left side to put the Badgers up 4-2. After six goals in 13 minutes, the remainder of the first period was scoreless but fast-paced as each team was determined to continue their momentum.
The first half of the second period continued without a goal from either side, until Osburn scored another goal for the Badgers, giving the home team the 5-2 lead. With two minutes remaining in the second period, Notre Dame freshman forward Cole Brown scored from the right side of the net to once again reduce Wisconsin’s lead to two.
Entering the third period, the Irish kept the Badgers from finding the back of the net as Werner scored two goals to tie the game. Werner’s three goals not only earned him a hat trick, but forced the game to overtime, something the Badgers fans were not expecting after Wisconsin’s dominance over Notre Dame the last time they met.
Just over a minute into overtime, Wisconsin junior forward Quinn Finley landed a central shot directly in front of the net, calling game and giving the Badgers the win.
Game Two
The high-intensity style of play continued into the second game of the series as the Irish faced the Badgers in Wisconsin on Saturday. Despite Hauser starting the night before for the Badgers, the coaching staff elected to give sophomore goaltender Eli Pulver the start. The Irish started Kempf once again, a decision that has been consistent throughout the season.
In similar fashion to the night before, the first period was riddled with goals. The Badgers once again got on the board two minutes in as senior defenseman Ben Dexheimer scored from the top of the crease. Not wanting to be left out, the Irish scored four minutes later as senior defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico found a hole in the right side of Pulver’s defense.
Recreating the success they found last night, both Finley and Werner scored a goal in the first period, three and a half minutes apart. In the last minute of the period, Badgers senior forward Simon Tassy scored the final goal of the period, giving Wisconsin a 3-2 lead heading into intermission.
Just before the halfway mark of the second period, the Irish tied the game with a goal by Danny Nelson, then junior forward Jayden Davis gave the Irish their only lead of the game two minutes later. After the Daniels goal, the Wisconsin coaching staff pulled Pulver, who allowed four goals, and replaced him with Hauser. With the Irish leading 4-3, Wisconsin sophomore forward Ryan Botterill tied the game with a goal through traffic, ending scoring for the second period.
The third and final period of the game was low-scoring, and as the teams stepped onto the ice tied 4-4, the exhaustion of fast-paced play caught up with them. Both teams were trying to make sure they did not give up a penalty and played smart hockey. Despite efforts on both sides, it was the Badgers who emerged victorious after Fitzgerald scored the game-winner with 10 minutes left in the period. The Irish could not beat Hauser in the net, and Wisconsin once again won the game by one goal.
The Irish did not earn another win against the ranked conference opponents, however, they played tight, cohesive hockey that utilized the first, second and third lines on offense. Kempf was outstanding in net as usual, with 56 saves for the weekend.
Notre Dame proved to the nation, but most importantly to themselves, that they can compete with high-caliber teams and that their witty style of play can be adapted to correct mistakes from previous matchups. The Irish will need to continue with the success and newfound motivation as they prepare to host Minnesota, who beat the Irish 3-0 and 4-1 the first time they met in early November.
Minnesota travels to Compton Family Ice Arena to face Notre Dame Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. as the Irish continue their revenge run on Big Ten opponents.
