Michigan Hockey Recap: The Wolverines defeat Notre Dame in a decisive two-game sweep.
Senior weekend in Ann Arbor carried a heightened sense of finality this year. Alongside the upperclassmen bidding farewell to their regular season games at Yost, the team grappled with the looming possibility of the entire season coming to an abrupt end before March.
The Michigan Wolverines have faced challenges with consistency throughout this season, finding themselves teetering on the edge of the Pairwise bubble as the weekend approached. Following weeks of uncertainty where missing the NCAA Tournament seemed a real threat, the Wolverines rallied against Notre Dame.
With another quick start, though this time taking more than 30 seconds, Michigan claimed a 1-0 lead early in the first game, courtesy of a remarkable Dylan Duke goal past Notre Dame’s formidable goalie, Ryan Bischel. Duke continued his momentum, adding a shorthanded goal later in the first period, securing his place as the top goal-scorer in the Big Ten.
Unlike previous instances, Michigan maintained their lead, bolstered by two power-play goals. Garrett Schifsky scored first in the second period, followed by Gavin Brindley’s goal in the third period, sealing a 4-0 victory. Senior goalie Jake Barczewski recorded his second shutout of the season, setting the stage for an impactful weekend.
However, Notre Dame didn’t yield easily. In the second game, they opened the scoring with a power-play goal, seizing their first lead of the series. Although Michigan initially equalized with a goal from Seamus Casey, it was disallowed due to an offsides call. Undeterred, Michigan responded, with Gavin Brindley leveling the score at 1-1.
The game remained tense with neither team gaining a clear advantage. As the third period progressed, it seemed destined for overtime until senior defenseman Marshall Warren scored with less than three minutes remaining, propelling Michigan to a 2-1 lead.
Michigan endured one final push from Notre Dame, securing a sweep. This marked Michigan’s first home sweep against Notre Dame since 1996-97 and solidified their position as the fourth seed with home-ice advantage in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament against Notre Dame.
