Inside of a mostly full house at the Compton Ice Arena, the No. 1/No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (18-3-1, 12-0-0-0 B1G) extended their herculean win streak to 15 with a win over the Michigan Wolverines (8-10-2, 3-6-2-1 B1G) Sunday afternoon.
With about 14 minutes remaining in the 1st Period, it appeared the Irish’s Bo Brauer slid one past Wolverine goalie Hayden Lavigne, but the refs reviewed it and ruled that it was a no-goal due to a hand pass by a teammate. The period remained scoreless, though the Irish held a 16-8 shot advantage over Michigan.
The Irish would finally break the scoring ice with under 14 minutes left in the period when Andrew Oglevie and Dylan Malmquist broke on a breakaway. Malmquist got the goalie to bite to his right, fed it to Oglevie, who then buried it past Lavigne’s left to put the Irish up.
Notre Dame appeared to have been sparked to life after the Oglevie goal, playing more aggressive on the puck. Right after killing a penalty, and after an Irish player was hauled down, Notre Dame went on the power play and it would be defenseman Matt Hellickson who stuffed the puck into the net with just over six minutes left to put the Irish up 2-0. Despite the goals, Michigan would gain the shot advantage 23-22 at the end of the period, with goaltender Cale Morris making a couple big saves to keep the Wolverines off the board.
With a little over 11 minutes left in the third period, Michigan’s Josh Norris banked in a rebound past Morris to draw Michigan within one at 2-1. Both teams would have numerous chances at net, with Notre Dame’s Morris and Michigan’s Lavigne standing tall to the tasks they faced. In the end, Morris would answer any question asked of him from Michigan and the Irish would hold off Michigan and earn their 15th win in a row.
Morris ended up with 33 saves for the Irish and was named the game’s First Star.
“Being playing able to play in this rivalry is special and this streak is special,” Morris said after the game after being announced as First Star. “I just think staying consistent and not being comfortable where we at will be key going forward. (This environment) is the best. It’s pretty special to have that here.”
Lavigne had 34 saves for Michigan and was the Third Star of the game. Oglevie was the Second Star.
The Irish have the week off this week before returning to action on Friday, Jan. 19 to host Wisconsin. That Sunday, the Irish and Badgers will play at the United Center in Chicago.
NOTRE DAME 2, MICHIGAN 1
At Compton Family Ice Arena
ND ⸺ Andrew Oglevie (9) (Dylan Malmquist, Colin Thiesen), 6:10 2nd
ND ⸺ Matt Hellickson (2) (Cam Morrison, Bobby Nardella), 13:51 2nd (PP)
M ⸺ Josh Norris (5) (Quinn Hughes, Jake Slaker), 8:44 3rd
Shots: Notre Dame 36, Michigan 34; Saves: Notre Dame 33 (Morris), Michigan 34 (Lavigne); Blocked shots: Notre Dame 8, Michigan 5; Faceoffs won: Notre Dame 32, Michigan 23; Powerplays: Notre Dame 1-3, Michigan 0-3; Penalties-Minutes: Notre Dame 3-6, Michigan 3-6; Attendance: 4,896; Records: Notre Dame 18-3-1 (12-0-0-0 B1G), Michigan 8-10-2 (3-6-2-1 B1G).
