Gophers men’s hockey team sinks in overtime against Notre Dame

Bob Motzko figured the Notre Dame hockey team his Gophers boat-raced with on a five-goal first period Friday night would play with much more determination in Saturday’s Big Ten series finale. The coach’s hope was that his team would match the intensity of a Fighting Irish squad that had its pride wounded.

Turns out, Motzko’s concern was justified as Notre Dame punched back with a 4-3 overtime victory in front of 10,346 at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Blake Biondi, a former Minnesota Mr. Hockey award winner from Hermantown, scored 3:46 into three-on-three overtime as the Fighting Irish secured two points in the Big Ten standings and left the Gophers with only one. Third-ranked Minnesota (19-5-2, 10-3-1 Big Ten) dropped to second place in the conference with 31 points, one behind Michigan State, which beat Michigan on Saturday. Minnesota travels to Michigan State next week in a showdown for first place in the Big Ten.

Gophers forward Matthew Wood scored at 7:14 of the third period to tie the score 3-3, and Minnesota pushed hard to get the winner in regulation. In overtime, the Gophers barely touched the puck as the Irish patiently played keep-away, finally attacking when Cole Knuble found Biondi with a cross-ice pass. The graduate transfer from Minnesota Duluth hammered the puck into net before Gophers goalie Liam Souliere could slide over.

“That’s the lesson,” Motzko said. “In the second half of the season, we’re going to be in these [tight games] every night. One team responded, and it took us a while to respond. We chased the game, made a few mistakes, and that was it.”

Jimmy Snuggerud and Luke Mittelstadt also scored goals for the Gophers, while Souliere made 27 saves. Erik Pahlsson added two assists.

For Notre Dame (8-15-1, 3-12-1), Ian Murphy, Carter Slaggert and Knuble also scored goals. Goalie Owen Say made 30 saves.

“Obviously, they were way harder to play today,” Pahlsson said.

That was clear early on, and the Fighting Irish took a 1-0 lead at 7:43 of the first when Murphy tipped Hunter Strand’s shot past Souliere.

Snuggerud tied the score 1-1 at 12:33 of the first with his 15th goal of the season, and it was a beauty. On the play, Snuggerud raced past Notre Dame defenseman Jaedon Kerr, cut toward the net, toe-dragged the puck to get Say to commit and fired it through the five hole.

“Snuggie was going great tonight. That line got going,” said Motzko, who had Snuggerud playing with Pahlsson and Brodie Ziemer, a line that produced four points.

Notre Dame was a step ahead, presenting a problem for the Gophers. Slaggert made it 2-1 at 2:25 of the second period before Pahlsson’s pass from center ice sent Mittelstadt on a breakaway. Mittelstadt drove to the net and roofed a backhander over Say for his first goal of the season and a 2-2 tie at 5:30 of the second.

Knuble put the Irish up 3-2 at 10:54 of the second, finishing a two-on-one rush.

The Gophers controlled play for much of the third period, outshooting Notre Dame 9-2 and winning more puck battles. Wood’s goal helped them collect one point, but they couldn’t add to it.

“A little bit of desperation kicked in,” forward Mason Nevers said. “Guys knew that we hadn’t had the best first two periods. … We shouldn’t have to be down the goal in order to do that, but it was good that we did."