Gophers men’s hockey tops Notre Dame in SO after losing late lead

Earlier this season, the Gophers men’s hockey team ended a streak of 11 consecutive shootout losses.

The Gophers now have a two-game winning streak in shootouts.

After the Gophers and Notre Dame skated to a 2-2 tie in regulation and a scoreless five-minute overtime, forwards Brodie Ziemer and Javon Moore scored in the shootout as the Gophers earned the extra point in the Big Ten standings.

“We played hard,” Gophers coach Bob Motzko told KTLK radio after the game. “The kids played their tails off, and it’s a confidence booster to get another shootout win.”

The Gophers (10-18-2, 6-12-1), who were 2-8 in their last 10 games entering Friday, led 2-0 after two periods, but the Irish (5-20-4, 1-15-1) scored in the first minute of the third period and then got the tying goal with 6:21 remaining in regulation.

“We turned the puck over in the first shift of the third,” Motzko said. “But we didn’t give up much and played solid. We have to continue to find ways to get a little more offensive. The guys are staying positive.”

BOXSCORE: Gophers 2, Notre Dame 2

Forward John Mittelstadt and Ziemer scored 26 seconds apart in the first period to give the Gophers a 2-0 lead.

Mittelstadt’s goal — his first of the season and first in 43 games dating to January 2025 — with 8:51 remaining in the period was assisted by Moore. Ziemer’s goal — assisted by Moore and forward Brody Lamb — made it 2-0 with 8:25 left in the period. It was Ziemer’s 20th goal of the season, the third-most in the nation. He also leads the country with 11 power-play goals.

Forward Brennan Ali scored 46 seconds into the third period to pull the Irish within 2-1. Notre Dame tied the game on a goal by forward Niko Jovanovic with 6:21 left in the third period. It was just the second goal of the year for Jovanovic.

The Gophers, who swept the Irish 3-0 and 4-1 in November in Minneapolis, outshot the Irish 17-12 in the third and 31-28 in regulation.

Gophers goalie Luca Di Pasquo stopped two of the three shootout attempts he faced to help his team improve to 1-2-2 beyond regulation this season.

The Gophers and Irish will conclude the series at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, in South Bend, Ind.

No. 2 Ohio State scored its first three goals on the power play and took a four-goal lead into the third period to outlast the No. 3 Gophers 4-2 on Friday, Feb. 13, in Columbus, Ohio.

The Buckeyes (27-4-0, 21-4-0 WCHA), playing without five Olympians, led 2-0 late in the second period before scoring twice in the last four minutes of the frame to open a 4-0 lead.

The Gophers (24-6-1, 18-6-1), who played without four Olympians, got on the scoreboard early in the third period on a goal by freshman center Bella Fanale.

Fanale’s goal — her 17th of the season — came with 17:30 remaining in the third. Fanale is tied for second among freshmen in goals scored. Forward Ava Lindsay’s assist on Fanale’s goal was her team-leading 27th of the season.

“Not the result we wanted, obviously,” Gophers coach Brad Frost told reporters after the game. “We got into a hole early and then were chasing the game. Our effort was there, though, but we lacked some execution on our penalty kill. We had plenty of chances but were unable to finish, so we’re disappointed in that. Again, the effort was there. In particular, in the second and third periods, and we’re proud of our team for that.”

The Gophers are 2-2-1 without their Olympians, while the Buckeyes improved to 4-1 without their Olympians.