Notre Dame hockey finishes sweep at Michigan with 3-0 victory

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – For the second straight night, Notre Dame’s offense came alive in the third period and this time Cale Morris was spotless all night.

Coach Jeff Jackson’s Irish broke a scoreless tie with goals by Spencer Stastney, Cam Morrison and Tory Dello, Morris made 19 saves for his 10th career shutout in his 101st game and Notre Dame won 3-0 to complete a two-game Big Ten Conference sweep of the Michigan Wolverines before a packed Yost Ice Arena crowd of 5,800.

The victory lifted the Irish (14-12-6, 9-8-5-3 Big Ten) into third place in the league with 35 points, three points behind leader Penn State and two behind second-place Minnesota who are finishing their Big Ten series in State College, Pa. The Irish were a point ahead of Ohio State, which concluded its series in East Lansing against Michigan State.

Mel Pearson’s Wolverines, who entered the game with an 8-2-1 record in the second half of the season, fell to 15-14-3 overall and 10-10-2-1 in the Big Ten for 33 points, two more than the Spartans. Michigan State visits Notre Dame next Friday and Saturday evening to conclude the regular season.

The Irish held the territorial edge through the first 40 minutes, outshooting the Wolverines 17-13 and winning 26 of 45 faceoff draws.

It was still 0-0 when Stastney, a sophomore defenseman, launched a shot from the left faceoff dot that appeared to have hit metal. Play went on until it appeared the Irish were going to be penalized for too many men on the ice.

The Big Ten officiating crew went to the penalty box to review the Stastney shot and ruled that it had gotten behind Michigan goalie Strauss Mann for a 1-0 Irish lead at 11:38 of the third period. Fourth-line forwards Pierce Crawford and Jess Lansdell received assists on Stastney’s third goal of the season.

Then less than two minutes later, senior left wing Morrison scored his 10th goal of the season and second of the weekend series. Friday night, his rebound goal early in the third period got the Irish started to their 2-1 victory. Once again, Morrison’s linemates Michael Graham, who had two assists Friday, and Alex Steeves set Morrison up to make it 2-0 at 13:14.

For the second straight night, Pearson pulled Mann for an extra attacker in the final three minutes and this time the Irish found the empty net at 18:33 when junior defenseman Matt Hellickson, who scored Friday’s game-winner, fed senior partner Tory Dello, who shot the puck 170 feet into the empty net for his third goal of the season.

Mann, who beat the Irish 3-0 and 3-1 in January during Michigan’s hot streak, finished with 25 saves. The Irish won 38 of 61 faceoffs but Michigan blocked 22 shots to Notre Dame’s 14.

NOTRE DAME 3, MICHIGAN 0

At Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Notre Dame 0 0 3 — 3

Michigan 0 0 0 — 0

First Period—Scoring: None. Penalties: Notre Dame 2-4; Michigan 2-4.

Second Period—Scoring: None. Penalties (total): Notre Dame 1-2 (3-6); Michigan 2-4 (4-8).

Third Period—Scoring: 1. Notre Dame, Spencer Stastney 3 (Pierce Crawford, Jesse Lansdell) EV 11:38. 2. Notre Dame, Cam Morrison 10 (Michael Graham, Alex Steeves) EV 13:14. 3. Notre Dame, Tory Dello 3 (Matt Hellickson) EV EN 18:33.

Penalties (total): Notre Dame 0-0 (3-6); Michigan 1-2 (5-10).

Power-play opportunities—Notre Dame 0 of 4; Michigan 0 of 2.

Faceoffs won—Notre Dame 38 (11-15-12); Michigan 23 (9-10-4).

Blocked shots—Notre Dame 14 (6-0-8); Michigan 22 (8-9-5).

Shots on goal—Notre Dame 28 (7-10-11); Michigan 19 (4-9-6).

Goalie saves—Notre Dame, Cale Morris 19 (4-9-6); Michigan, Strauss Mann 25 (7-10-8)

Records—Notre Dame 14-12-6 (9-8-5-3 for 35 points in Big Ten), Michigan 15-14-3 (10-10-2-1 for 33 points in Big Ten).

A—5,800.