Tag: gophers hockey

Notre Dame Opens Big Ten Tournament with Win

The Fighting Irish failed to convert on a five minute power play in the second period but did find a net via a Trevor Janicke put-back late in the period.

Quarterfinals for the 2020 Big Ten Hockey Tournament got underway Friday and can I start by just throwing a little praise to the Big Ten?

I know that’s not generally a popular view in these parts and I tend to lead that charge but in hockey the regular season conference champion gets a first round bye in the conference tournament while the other six qualifying schools play a best-of-three against their quarterfinal opponent to advance.

It’s not perfect as I wish it was a best-of-three in the next two rounds but hey, it’s at least a start.

Now to Friday’s game:

No. 5 Notre Dame dominated the first period Friday at No. 4 Minnesota outshooting the Gophers 12-2. However, no pucks found the net as the opening frame ended scoreless.

The Fighting Irish failed to convert on a five minute power play in the second period but did find a net via a Trevor Janicke put-back late in the period.

Taking a 1-0 lead to the final frame, the Notre Dame defense continued to dominate the evening as they allowed just 12 shots against all night long which resulted in Cale Morris’s 11th career shutout, the third such showing in a Big Ten Tournament game.

Notre Dame and Minnesota again battle Saturday night in Minneapolis with puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET. A win would send Notre Dame to the semi-finals while a loss would force a deciding game three which would be played Sunday night again at Minnesota.