Michigan
7-7-3, 2-5-2
Notre Dame
8-5-2, 4-1-2
Wolverines Stifled by Irish in Loss at Notre Dame
12/1/2023 10:42:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» T.J. Hughes scored the team's lone goal with a power-play tally in the first period.
» Jacob Truscott earned the primary assist on Hughes' ninth goal of the year.
» Michigan looks to earn a split with the Irish on Saturday at 6 p.m.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The 13th-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team fell 6-1 to Notre Dame on Friday night (Dec. 1) in the series opener at Compton Family Ice Arena
The Irish (8-5-3, 4-1-2 Big Ten) applied pressure on Michigan (7-7-3, 2-5-2 Big Ten) from the opening whistle. Jake Barczewski made a series of key stops early on by sliding swiftly from post to post, but Notre Dame capitalized on the early rush of momentum to open the scoring at 6:56.
Michigan's power-play unit was activated at 9:28 when Gavin Brindley was dragged down in the offensive zone. Fresh off a faceoff win to start the man-advantage, Dylan Duke was cross-checked in the back near the blue paint to draw another penalty and earn a lengthy 5x3 power-play opportunity for the Wolverines.
U-M tied it up when T.J. Hughes blasted home a one-timer from the high slot off a flat pass from Jacob Truscott on the right flank. Duke earned the secondary helper to even the score at 1 at the halfway point of the opening period.
The Irish responded and took a 2-1 lead with seven minutes left before the first intermission.
With one period in the books, U-M trailed 2-1 despite leading 16-11 in shots on goal and owning an 8-7 edge in faceoffs.
Just 53 seconds into the second frame, Notre Dame tacked on a third goal to double their lead and make it 3-1.
The Irish extended their lead late in the period. Just as a Notre Dame skater exited the penalty box and rejoined play after killing off a Wolverines power-play chance, the home team sprinted down the ice on an odd-man rush to bang home a fourth goal with 2:01 left in the second period.
Netminder Noah West came on for the third stanza in relief of Barczewski, and he was put to the test immediately. Barczewski excited the game turning aside 20 of 24 shots through the first 40 minutes.
Notre Dame scored an early goal to build upon its lead and make it 5-1. The fifth tally came at 3:26 when a shot from close quarters was jammed across the line.
With the game out of hand, the Irish finished the night with a sixth goal to solidify the final score at 6-1 with 41 seconds remaining in the contest.
Saturday night (Dec. 2), Michigan will close out the first half while looking to rebound in South Bend. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on Peacock.
