University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, March 7
3M Arena at Mariucci
7:00 pm
University of Minnesota
15-14-7
2
vs
1
Notre Dame
15-14-7
1
2
3
F
Notre Dame
0
0
1
1
Minnesota
1
0
1
2
Gophers Force Game 3 after 2-1 Win
3/7/2020 10:08:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 19 Gopher Hockey program used a pair of goals from unlikely skaters on Saturday night to pick up a 2-1 win over Notre Dame at 3M Arena at Mariucci, forcing a deciding Game Three on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Minnesota (15-14-7) jumped out to a two-goal lead with tallies coming from Ryan Zuhlsdorf and Cullen Munson and then rode out a late push from the Irish (15-14-7) to even the series at one game each.
Zuhlsdorf snapped a 43-game goal drought with his first of the season and fourth career goal at 1:24 after being fed in the high slot and ripping a wrist shot past Cale Morris. Walker set up the senior defenseman's goal while Blake McLaughlin also added an assist. The goal also marked the first time in Notre Dame's three-year history in the Big Ten that the Irish have trailed in a Big Ten tournament game.
Munson added to the lead with his second goal of the season and second career goal at 3:27 of the third period, picking up his first career game-winning tally in the process. Jonny Sorenson and Joey Marooney earned assists on the deciding goal.
The Irish finally found a way behind Jack LaFontaine when Cam Morrison picked up a power-play tally at 10:14 of the third period, but Minnesota held Notre Dame out of the net for the rest of the night.
LaFontaine improved to 8-9-6 on the year with 30 saves on 31 shots and has now allowed two goals or less in each of the last four games. Cale Morris fell to 12-13-7 after making 18 saves on 20 shots for Notre Dame.
Minnesota was outshot 20-31 on the night.
Up Next: Game Three at 3M Arena at Mariucci
The Gophers and the Irish will conclude this weekend's best-of-three Big Ten quarterfinal series on Sunday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. CT (TV: FS2; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM). The winner of the deciding game will head to Penn State for a Big Ten tournament semifinal contest on Saturday, March 14.
Minnesota (15-14-7) jumped out to a two-goal lead with tallies coming from Ryan Zuhlsdorf and Cullen Munson and then rode out a late push from the Irish (15-14-7) to even the series at one game each.
Zuhlsdorf snapped a 43-game goal drought with his first of the season and fourth career goal at 1:24 after being fed in the high slot and ripping a wrist shot past Cale Morris. Walker set up the senior defenseman's goal while Blake McLaughlin also added an assist. The goal also marked the first time in Notre Dame's three-year history in the Big Ten that the Irish have trailed in a Big Ten tournament game.
Munson added to the lead with his second goal of the season and second career goal at 3:27 of the third period, picking up his first career game-winning tally in the process. Jonny Sorenson and Joey Marooney earned assists on the deciding goal.
The Irish finally found a way behind Jack LaFontaine when Cam Morrison picked up a power-play tally at 10:14 of the third period, but Minnesota held Notre Dame out of the net for the rest of the night.
LaFontaine improved to 8-9-6 on the year with 30 saves on 31 shots and has now allowed two goals or less in each of the last four games. Cale Morris fell to 12-13-7 after making 18 saves on 20 shots for Notre Dame.
Minnesota was outshot 20-31 on the night.
Up Next: Game Three at 3M Arena at Mariucci
The Gophers and the Irish will conclude this weekend's best-of-three Big Ten quarterfinal series on Sunday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. CT (TV: FS2; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM). The winner of the deciding game will head to Penn State for a Big Ten tournament semifinal contest on Saturday, March 14.
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Team Stats
ND
MINN
Shots
31
20
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
3
2
Penalty Mins
6
4
Faceoffs Won
27
26
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
1
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
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