Men’s hockey: Snuggerud’s OT winner gives Gophers a split at Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Jimmy Snuggerud took a cross-ice pass and buried the game-winner in overtime as Minnesota survived a second straight upset bid by Notre Dame to come away with a 3-2 win Saturday night at Compton Family Ice Arena.

After all four regulation goals came in the second period, the Gophers dominated the third, putting 14 shots on Fighting Irish goaltender Ryan Bischel, who battled another Mike Richter watch list netminder Justen Close once again after the Minnesota goalie was pulled in Friday night’s 6-1 Notre Dame victory.

Snuggerud got a pass off the stick of defenseman Ryan Chesley, corralled it at the red line and raced in with only Notre Dame forward Danny Nelson and Bischel to beat. The sophomore put on the brakes, cut to his right and fired a low shot to fool Bischel at the 1:18 mark of the extra period.

It was Snuggerud’s team-leading 19th goal of the season; his 31st point trails only teammate Rhett Pitlick’s 32.

Notre Dame took a 2-1 lead just past the halfway mark in the second period when the Fighting Irish intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and Jayden Davis cut through the slot to beat Close low on the glove side.

Minnesota got the equalizer just 18 seconds later when fifth-year senior Jaxon Nelson stormed up the left side, banked the puck off the boards to slow Irish defenseman Ryan Siedem and rifled a low shot through Bischel.

Minnesota (12-6-4, 19-8-5) held Notre Dame to just four shots on goal in the first period before sophomore Connor Kurth broke the scoreless game with an early second-period goal. Notre Dame junior Justin Janicke tied the game less than five minutes later.

Close, who was pulled after allowing four goals in Friday’s loss, finished with 24 saves. The netminder also picked up an assist on Snuggerud’s OT winner. Bischel registered 36 for Notre Dame.

The Gophers, third place in the Big Ten, closed within five points of struggling Wisconsin.

Briefly

– Minnesota outshot Notre Dame 39-26 with both teams registering one shot on goal in overtime. Chesley led the Gophers with eight.

– The game was relatively penalty-free with the Irish picking up two minors. Freshman Cole Knuble was called for holding in the second period and Siedem for cross-checking in the third period. The Gophers finished 0 for 2 on the power play.

– Notre Dame celebrated senior night honoring Ryan Siedem, Jake Boltmann, Grant Silianoff, Patrick Moynihan, Landon Slaggert, Brady Bjork, Drew Bavaro, Zach Plucinski, Trevor Janicke, Ryan Bischel, Joshua Graziano and Brayden Napoli.

– The Gophers finished the regular season 2-2-0 against the Irish.