Rough start in series for Irish hockey

LOWELL, Mass. — C.J. Smith scored less than two minutes into the game and No. 14 Massachusetts Lowell had five players score as the River Hawks beat Notre Dame, 5-0, in game one of a best-of-three Hockey East tournament quarterfinal series Friday night.

Terrence McGrath and Evan Campbell added first-period tallies for Lowell (19-10-6), which outshot the Irish, 29-21. 

ND had given up just three first-period goals in their previous nine games.

“We have no choice (but to put it behind us),” Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson said. “It’s no different than losing in five overtimes. It’s all the same. We have to be ready and much better prepared by tomorrow night.”

Joe Gambardella and A.J. White finished the scoring with River Hawk goals in the second period.

Cal Peterson played the first two periods and stopped 17 shots for Notre Dame (17-18-5). Chad Katunar came on in the third and made seven saves.

Game two of the series is Saturday at 7 p.m. and Notre Dame will have to win two straight to keep their season alive. The Irish dropped game one of its opening-round series last week against Massachusetts and rallied to win the series with 5-3 and 7-0 wins.