Ohio State junior Goaltender Tommy Nappier (37) stands with his teammates prior to the start of the game of Ohio State-Omaha. Ohio State lost to Omaha 2-1. Credit: John Huether | For The Lantern
No. 5 Notre Dame men’s hockey (7-0-1, 3-0-1Big Ten) ended No. 8 Ohio State’s (6-3-1, 2-2-0) four-game winning streak with a series sweep Friday and Saturday in South Bend, Indiana.
Game 1
Ohio State dropped the first game of the series 3-2 in overtime Friday.
Both teams scored late in the third to force an extra period, where Notre Dame junior forward Pierce Crawford ended the game 3:59 into overtime.
Ohio State junior goalie Tommy Nappier received the third star of the game thanks to his 32 save effort on 35 shots. The Fighting Irish outshot the Buckeyes 35-27.
The Buckeye’s leading point-scorer, senior forward Tanner Laczynski, opened the scoring when he tipped a shot in with less than a minute to go in the opening period. It was his 10th point of the season.
Notre Dame scored the lone goal in the second period as freshman forward Solag Bakich had the first of his career.
Ohio State broke the tie as senior forward Carson Meyer scored with 3:17 left in regulation.
The lead would not hold up for Ohio State, as Notre Dame freshman forward Trevor Janicke scored his fourth goal in as many games to tie it up with 1:57 left, sending the game into overtime.
The five-on-five overtime lasted nearly four minutes before Notre Dame sealed the come-from-behind victory with 1:01 left.
Game 2
Notre Dame completed the sweep of the Buckeyes thanks to two goals in the third period as it took a 2-1 victory Saturday night.
Ohio State once again opened the score sheet as sophomore forward Gustaf Westlund netted his fifth goal of the year and gave the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead halfway through the second period.
Ohio State held onto the 1-0 lead until Notre Dame’s sophomore forward Jake Pivonka found the equalizer with 11:28 remaining.
Notre Dame was able to find its second straight goal as sophomore forward Cam Burke sent home a slap-shot for the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner.
The sweep gives Ohio State its first back-to-back losses of the season as it heads into a bye next weekend.
