Michigan
8-7-3, 3-5-2
Notre Dame
8-6-2, 4-2-2
Michigan Closes First Half With Win at Notre Dame
12/2/2023 9:46:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Frank Nazar III opened the scoring to give Michigan its first lead of the weekend.
» Seamus Casey had a game-high seven shots on goal and assisted on Nazar's tally.
» Dylan Duke scored his team-leading fourth game-winning goal of the campaign.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A strong effort in all phases led the 13th-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team to a 2-1 win at Notre on Saturday evening (Dec. 2) inside the Compton Family Ice Arena.
Frank Nazar III opened the scoring at 6:04 and give Michigan (8-7-3, 3-5-2 Big Ten) its first lead of the weekend. Defenseman Seamus Casey started the play by maneuvering his way around an oncoming checker to make a backhanded pass to Nazar, who had found soft ice in the slot. The forward let Casey's pass travel through his wheelhouse before unleashing a one-timer from close quarters to put Michigan up 1-0.
Notre Dame (8-6-3, 4-2-2 Big Ten) tied the game with 1:20 remaining in the opening period. After pinning the Michigan quintet into the defensive zone with an extended possession, the Irish banged home a goal to make knot the game at 1.
After one period, the score was deadlocked at one goal apiece. Each squad put 12 shots on goal while the Irish won 13 faceoffs to Michigan's seven. Both teams saw one power-play attempt come and go without a tally.
The bulk of the action in the second period occurred in the Notre Dame zone, as Michigan continuously set up offensive-zone possessions in addition to testing the goaltender in transition. U-M generated several open-net looks after forcing the netminder to track a rapidly-moving puck, but the team failed to bury them for most of the frame.
Late in the period, Michigan regained its one-goal lead after Duke prevented a UND defender from using the glass to exit the zone along the wall. He corralled the puck before gaining possession and started the rush. Duke moved the puck over to T.J. Hughes, who quickly dished a pass to Gavin Brindley at the left of the crease. Instead of shooting, Brindley zipped one more quick pass across the crease to Duke, who smashed home the backdoor feed to make it 2-1 with 3:50 left in the second stanza.
The game took a late turn with 1:34 remaining in regulation when Duke and a UND defender got together after a whistle following a Michigan shot attempt. After being separated, Duke was the only player to be sent to the box and Notre Dame pulled its goaltender in favor of a 6-on-4 advantage.
The Wolverines kept the puck out of the net and earned the 2-1 win off a 35-29 advantage in shots on goal and a wide 19-8 gulf in blocked shots. Notre Dame did lead in the faceoff dot, 37-27, but Jake Barczewski made 28 saves on 29 shots faced as he earned him his seventh win of the season.
With the first half of the season in the books, Michigan embarks upon an extended break. Next up for U-M is an exhibition game against the National Team Development Program U-18 team on Saturday, Jan. 6 at USA Hockey Arena.
