University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Notre Dame
Late Rally Comes Up Short Against Irish
1/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Jan. 7, 2012
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
l Observations From 4-3 Loss l Live Blog Recap l Updated Season Stats
The No. 3-ranked Minnesota men's hockey team dropped its first game of 2012, falling 4-3 to fifth-ranked Notre Dame at Mariucci Arena on Saturday night in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game. The Gophers scored two goals in the final three minutes, but could not erase a 4-1 deficit in the game's waning moments.
The Fighting Irish controlled play in the first period following a five-minute penalty kill early in the first after Nick Larson of Notre Dame checked UM freshman Kyle Rau from behind.
UND took its first lead of the contest 17:54 into the opening frame when T.J. Tynan potted his eighth goal of the year on the power play. Immediately after a Minnesota penalty killer fanned on a clearing attempt, Tynan collected the loose puck and beat Gopher netminder Kent Patterson with a quick shot.
After being outshot 14-5 in the first period Minnesota tied the game just before the midway point in the period. On the tail end of a power play where the Gopher created several quality scoring chances, captain Taylor Matson banged home his own rebound to knot the score.
Just over five minutes later, UND capitalized on a power play of its own when Riley Sheahan fired a shot over Patterson's right shoulder.
Sheahan made it a two-goal game before the end of the middle stanza by pouncing on a Minnesota turnover at his own blueline and converting on a shorthanded breakaway.
Notre Dame cushioned its lead with 6:16 remaining in regulation when Jeff Costello scored three seconds after a faceoff in the Minnesota zone.
Gopher head coach and Notre Dame alum Don Lucia pulled Patterson with the Gophers on the power play with 3:21 to play and the risk paid off 34 seconds later when Nick Bjugstad buried a goalmouth shot to make it a two-goal game.
UM drew within one 31 seconds later when Zach Budish completed a nifty passing play. Ben Marshall and Nate Condon both made quick, behind-the-back passes to set up Budish in front for the redshirt sophomore's sixth goal of the season.
Despite a spirited effort in the final 2:16, the Gophers could not tie the game and took its sixth Hall of Fame Game loss in 19 games (13-6-0). Fighting Irish goaltender Steven Summerhays finished with 31 saves.
Minnesota gets back to action next weekend with its first WCHA series of the New Year when it heads to North Dakota on Friday and Saturday.
