Notre Dame hockey: Summerhays makes 36 saves in Irish shutout

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Notre Dame goaltender Steven Summerhays made 36 saves and the Irish got goals from David Gerths, Bryan Rust and Jeff Costello in a 3-0 win over Providence on a snowy, wintry night at Schneider Arena.

The shutout gives Summerhays six this season, tops in the nation, and ties him for first on Notre Dame’s all-time list with David Brown ’07 and Jordan Pearce ’09.

Jon Gillies made 24 saves for Providence as the Friars out-shot the Irish 36-27. Summerhays had 83 saves in the Notre Dame win and tie on the weekend.

The win snapped a six-game (0-5-1) Irish winless streak on the road in Hockey East. The last Irish win in the conference away from home came on Nov. 2, at Vermont, a 3-2 win.

Notre Dame is 17-12-2 overall and 6-9-2 in Hockey East, good for 14 points and a tie for seventh with Vermont. Providence is 15-9-6 and 7-7-2. The Friars are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games.

The Irish scored once in each period and took a 1-0 lead at 5:59 of the opening stanza on Gerths’ first goal of the season.

With the Irish in a line change, Mike Voran forced a turnover in the right corner and came out with the puck. Gerths, who was coming late down the slot, took a pass from Voran and hammered a slap shot low to Gillies stick side to make it 1-0.

The Irish, who had struggled on the power play over the last five games, made it 2-0 on their third power-play chance of the game as Rust cashed in from the left side of the goal at 13:12 for his 12th goal of the season.

With Mark Jankowski off for elbowing, Notre Dame went to work. Jeff Costello made a cross rink pass from the left circle to Sam Herr camped on the right side. The sophomore left wing slid a pass across the crease to a wide-open Rust who just tapped the puck inside the left post to give Notre Dame the two-goal lead.

From there, Summerhays took over. He came up with a big stop midway through the third period as he shut down Nick Saracino on a breakaway attempt.

The Irish sealed the victory at 19:21 of the third when Costello scored his 10th goal of the season, scoring into an empty net for the 3-0 victory.

Notre Dame was 1-for-5 on the power play and held the Friars scoreless in five power play chances.

The Irish return to Hockey East action on Feb. 21-22 when they host Boston University in the final regular season home series. Game time each night at the Compton Family Ice Arena is 7:05 p.m.

Scoring

1st Period: ND: David Gerths 1 (Mike Voran), 5:59.

Penalties: ND: 2 for 4 minutes; PC: 1 for 2 minutes.

2nd Period: ND: Bryan Rust 12 (Sam Herr, Jeff Costello), PPG, 13:12.

Penalties: ND: 2 for 4 minutes; PC: 2 for 4 minutes.

3rd Period: ND: Costello 10 (Steven Fogarty, Peter Schneider), ENG, 19:21.

Penalties: ND: 2 for 4 minutes; PC: 1 for 2 minutes.

Shots On Goal: Notre Dame 11 - 9 - 7 - 27; Providence; 11 - 10 - 15 - 36; Goaltender Saves: ND: Steven Summerhays (60:00 11 - 10 - 15 - 36; PC: Jon Gillies (60:00) 10 - 8 - 6 - 24; Power Plays: ND: 1 for 5; PC: 0 for 5

Attendance: 2,978 (sellout)