Notre Dame Hockey: PK stays flawless, but Irish get handed first loss of the season

The long comeback for the Irish ends quickly in OT

The no. 12/13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish returned home on Thursday to open a series against the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers. Jeff Jackson’s team looked to improve upon their 3-0-0 start in their first meeting with RIT since 1990.

First Period

Both teams found themselves on the power-play within the first four minutes of the contest, but neither could capitalize on the man advantage. The Tigers would open the scoring when Will Calverley put a one-timer past Ryan Bischel. Four minutes later, a wraparound goal from Kobe Walker doubled the RIT lead going into intermission.

Second Period

The Notre Dame penalty kill, coming into the contest a perfect 17 for 17, was tested for the second time in as many periods thanks to the game’s third tripping call of the evening. Shortly after the penalty was killed off, captain Graham Slaggert pulled the Irish within 1 by beating Kolby Matthews glove side for his first of the season.

Third Period

In the third, a skirmish between Solag Bakich and RIT’s Gianfranco Cassaro sent both players to the box. During the 4-on-4, a hook on an open Landon Slaggert gave the Irish another man advantage. WIth 2 seconds left in the 4-on-3, Nick Leivermann tied it up with Notre Dame’s first power-play goal since the season opener.

A big hit near the boards sent Landon Slaggert to the penalty box, but the Notre Dame penalty kill remained perfect, creating some good shorthanded scoring chances of their own while also holding the Tigers to just one shot on net. Shortly after, it was Notre Dame’s turn to go back on the power-play thanks to too many players on the ice, but the game remained tied after 3 periods.

Overtime

In the extra frame, it didn’t take long for the Tigers to put the game away. Thirty seconds into overtime, a feed by Aiden Hansen-Bukata found Carter Wilkie in front of the net to bury home the game winner and complete the upset of the Fighting Irish.

Game Summary

Scoring

RIT: Will Calverley at 13:12 in the 1st with assist from Nick Bruce

RIT: Kobe Walker at 17:11 in the 1s t with assist from Will Calverley

Notre Dame: Graham Slaggert at 15:22 in the 2nd with assists from Ryder Rolston and Adam Karashik

Notre Dame: Nick Leivermann (PPG) at 09:14 in the 3rd

RIT: Carter Wilkie at 00:30 in OT with assists from Aiden Hansen-Bukata and Andrew Rinaldi

Penalties:

RIT: Andrew Rinaldi for tripping at 01:25 in the 1st

Notre Dame: Spencer Stastney for tripping at 03:24 in the 1st

Notre Dame: Jake Boltmann for tripping at 13:06 in the 2nd

RIT: Gianfranco Cassaro for roughing at 07:16 in the 3rd

Notre Dame: Solag Bakich for roughing at 07:16 in the 3rd

RIT: Spencer Berry for hooking at 08:31 in the 3rd

Notre Dame: Landon Slaggert for boarding at 12:50 in the 3rd

RIT: Team penalty for too many players on the ice at 15:48 in the 3rd

Goalies

Notre Dame: Ryan Bischel, 16 saves

RIT: Kolby Matthews, 32 saves

Moving Forward

The Irish will conclude their series with RIT on Friday, October 22, at 7:30 PM ET. The game can be streamed on NBCSports.com or the NBC Sports app.