Playing as an unranked team for the first time since February 2020, the Gophers men’s hockey team ended a four-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over Notre Dame on Friday at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
The Gophers, who were on their longest losing streak since a seven-game losing streak in the 1997-98 season, got a second-period goal from Beckett Hendrickson before adding two empty-netters in the final minutes.
“It was a really good hockey game for us tonight,” Gophers Bob Motzko told reporters after the game. “I loved our start; it was exactly what we needed. We haven’t had good Friday night starts and that was the emphasis.
“It was one game, but we have to keep building on it and stick to the process right now.”
Luca Di Pasquo had 19 saves to earn his first shutout of the season for the Gophers (3-7-1, 1-2 Big Ten).
Following a scoreless first period in which the Gophers had a 15-7 advantage in shots on goal against the Irish (3-5-1, 0-3), the home team was unable to take advantage of two power-play opportunities in the first five minutes of the second period, before Hendrickson broke the scoreless tie with 12:56 left in the frame.
The score remained 1-0 until Brody Lamb’s empty-netter with 2:48 to play in the game. John Whipple added another empty-net goal, his first goal with the Gophers, 36 seconds later and assisted by Di Pasquo.
The Gophers outshot the Irish 34-19 but went 0-for-4 on the power play. The teams will conclude the series Saturday night.
