Michigan
16-12-3, 9-10-2
Notre Dame
15-16-2, 9-12-2
Elder Duke Scores Twice in Michigan's Shutout Win Over Notre Dame
2/23/2024 11:15:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Dylan Duke scored twice, including a short-handed goal, for his fourth multi-goal game of the year.
» Michigan's top-ranked power-play unit scored twice; the team's PP currently sits at 35.6%.
» Jake Barczewski notched his second shutout as a Wolverine and the eighth of his career.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #17 Michigan 4, Notre Dame 0
Records: U-M (16-12-3, 9-10-2), ND (15-16-2, 9-12-2)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior forward Dylan Duke scored a pair of first-period goals and Jake Barczewski was outstanding in net to lead the 17th-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team to a 4-0 shutout win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Yost Ice Arena on Friday night (Feb. 23) and earn three critical points in the Big Ten standings.
Barczewski secured his second shutout as a Wolverine by turning aside all 22 shots that he faced. The veteran netminder was put to the test late in the third period when UND was given a penalty shot, but he shut down the chance with ease.
Michigan opened the scoring on its first shot on goal at 4:35, marking the 25th time Michigan has scored first in 31 games this season. Fresh off an offensive-zone faceoff win in the right dot, Duke skated through the circle to find the puck before picking the corner to give U-M a 1-0 lead on his 19th goal of the year. His linemate, T.J. Hughes, earned the lone assist for winning the draw.
Later in the period, Notre Dame took the game's first penalty at 12:26 to put the Wolverines on the power play. Nothing came of the opportunity beyond a number of shots on goal.
Right after he had a grade-A opportunity turned aside on an abbreviated breakaway, Josh Eernisse was penalized while forechecking for boarding. Before the puck was dropped for the ensuing faceoff, the Irish challenged a different interaction for contact to the head. After an official review, the on-ice decision to not call an additional penalty was upheld.
Duke doubled up on the Irish and reached the 20-goal mark by netting a shorthanded goal with 3:20 left after a turnover in Notre Dame's defensive zone left the puck sitting in their slot. The junior alternate captain collected the puck and rolled out a quick series of dekes before forcing a low shot across the goal line to put the Wolverines up by a pair. This was the fourth time in 31 games that Duke notched multiple goals; he became the first U-M skater to reach 20 this year. It also marks his second straight weekend with a short-handed goal, after getting his first career shorty last weekend at Penn State.
Michigan tacked on its third goal at 17:32 converting on the power play. Over halfway through the team's second advantage of the night, Garrett Schifsky took up a position near the front of the net and zipped the puck across the goal line. Mark Estapa earned the primary assist for popping a pass out to Schifsky from below the goal line while Nick Moldenhauer earned the secondary helper for working the puck down to Estapa.
With one period left, Michigan held a 3-0 lead as well as a 23-14 edge in shots on goal. The Wolverines were in the midst of their third power play after scoring the first power-play of the game just minutes before. Through 40 minutes, the Irish had dominated in the dot, 25-12.
Notre Dame started its third power play at 5:23 when Eernisse was penalized for roughing in a post-whistle scrum in front of Michigan's crease. For the third time in as many tries, U-M dismissed UND's power-play chance and play returned to full-strength.
At 11:35, Moldenhauer was propelled into the boards from behind to earn a whistle. After a quick review, the officials assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for hitting from behind to give the Wolverines an extended power-play chance.
The UND captain received a penalty shot with 5:37 left in regulation after being tripped on a shorthanded breakaway opportunity. He eased his way in toward Barczewski before trying a snap shot from the hash marks that Barczewski was able to push aside.
Less than a minute later, Michigan struck on the power play for the second time. McGroarty corralled a pass from Hughes in the left circle off his skate before sending a cross-crease pass that was finished off by Brindley, crashing the net for his 19th tally of the year to make it 4-0 at 15:15.
With just 1:37 remaining, each side sent a skater to the box for coincidental minor penalties to close out the game at 4x4. Notre Dame wrapped up the evening at 0-for-3 on the man-advantage while the Wolverines finished the night at 2-for-5.
Michigan put the finishing touches on the 4-0 win to finish off the team's first home shutout over the Irish since Feb. 18, 2018. The Wolverines wrapped up the game with 35 shots on goal to Notre Dame's 22, but the Irish did end the night with a 29-24 edge in the faceoff dot. The win also marked U-M's largest margin of victory over Notre Dame at Yost since the team won by four in a shutout during CCHA play on Feb. 25, 2010.
Tomorrow night, Michigan will host Notre Dame for its final home game of the regular season at Yost Ice Arena. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network once again. Following the final buzzer, the program will honor this year's senior class in the annual Senior Night celebration.
