By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
Chicago, Ill. (Wrigley Field) Unlike game one of the hockey series where Michigan and Ohio State are ranked, Penn State (1-9 )and Notre Dame (0-8) are trying to earn a Big Ten win. The Big Ten Hockey Series is a great place to earn it. Penn State’s Aiden Fink is fifth in the B1G in scoring with a line of (5-5-10)
First Period
Notre Dame earns the first two-on-one in the game as Ian Murphy took a feed from Ali Brennan but Arsenii Sergeev for the Nittany Lions makes the save. The Irish breakthrough at 7:29 of the period as Grant Silanoff tucks it home in a wide-open net. Jack Larrigan was also in front of the goaltender Sergeev and its 1 nil. Less than a minute later, PSU ties it. Tyler Paquette goes stick side against ND goaltender Nicholas Kempf. He was fooled on the shot and the game is tied at one. Notre Dame’s Jimmy Jurcev goes to the box at 13:19 for tripping putting PSU on the power play. No damage is done with the extra man and the score remains. 1-1. As play continued without major scoring chances, PSU was called for a penalty at 17:45 as Carter Schade hits the box for interference. The Golden Domers make PSU pay as a puck batted down by the Irish to hold the zone, nifty passing and a one-timer give them a 2-1 lead. Assists by Cole Knuble and Blake Biondi. SOG ND 17, PSU 15.
Second Period
A fairly nondescript period of hockey as there were no goals until the final minute, few penalties and a lack of big hits. The Irish played shorthanded at 14:38 as Jayden Davis was called for tripping. Penn State skated for most of the man advantage in the Irish zone, but could muster no shots during the power play. PS picks up a puck in the final minute of the period and skates two on two and Matt DiMarsico puts away a fat rebound given up by the Irish goaltender Nicholas Kempf and ties the hockey game at two. Charlie Cerrato has the assist. After two periods, it’s a 2-2 game. SOG ND 28, PSU 23.
Third Period
In just :35 seconds of hockey including the first ten seconds of the third, PSU went from trailing by a goal to leading 3-2. Dane Dowiak of Penn State scores unassisted at :10 and the Nittany Lions lead 3-2. Notre Dame goes on the power play with 12:00 to play and puts no shots on goal and gives up a short-handed shot.
The Irish put pressure on the Penn State net with five shots on goal and Carter Slaggert takes a feed across the net from Grant Silianoff to tie the game at three. The goal comes at 11:02. PSU’s goalie Sergeev never had a chance. The game is tied. The Irish continue peppering the net but PSU eventually clears and both teams play back-and-forth hockey. PSU outshot ND 11-1 to open the period and ironically, ND has outshot their opponents 11-1 since. The game remains tied 3-3 at the end of 60 minutes. SOG: ND 42- PSU 40.
3-3 Overtime
The Nittany Lions carried the first half of the 5-minute overtime session and Nicholas Kempf was sharp. The Irish have quality chances over the next few minutes of action but could not solve Sergeev.
Shootout
After 8 rounds, both teams score once but it’s the goaltenders taking the lead. Notre Dame finally scores in round eight, the Fighting Irish take the 4-3 OT win.
Attendance
25,709 for both games combined
Saturday Games
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin- Women’s Big Ten Hockey
No. 1 Michigan State vs. Wisconsin
Roy J. Akers covers college hockey for www.skyviewsports.net
