COLUMBUS, Ohio — The University of Notre Dame hockey team closed out its 2024 slate with a battle at No. 16/15 Ohio State, ultimately falling 3-1 to the Buckeyes Saturday night.
Ohio State came out firing at the Irish net early but Owen Say stood tall in the crease, turning aside the Buckeyes’ first eight shots as the Irish looked for their first shot on goal.
The Irish starters eventually got the offense rolling with Ryan Helliwell sending the first official shot on goal at the Buckeye net but his chance was padded to the side and play continued in a scoreless battle.
The Irish were whistled for the first penalty of the night and were forced to skate shorthanded just over halfway through the opening frame. Notre Dame was successful in killing off the infraction, holding the Buckeyes to only three shots during their man-advantage.
The two teams looked to be headed to a knotted break through 20 minutes played but a late goal by the Buckeyes, at 19:31 of the frame, had the Irish trailing at the first intermission.
Danny Nelson tied things up at 4:55 of the second period when he corralled a rebound off the glass and fired it top shelf into the back of the net.
The Irish continued to press the Buckeye end but a shot by Justin Janicke trickled just wide of the net and the game remained tied.
OSU would eventually get the edge with 3:58 to play in the second after the initial save by Say bounced back onto the stick of a Buckeye who buried the rebound to make it 2-1.
The score would hold through the end of the second period despite a late push from the Irish offense which included chances from Carter Slaggert and Hunter Strand.
The Buckeyes were called for their first penalty of the night at 4:55 of the third frame when Ian Murphy went awkwardly into the boards. The interference call gave the Irish their first powerplay opportunity of the night, still trailing by a goal.
Strand nearly had the equalizer as he was alone out front but the pass from Murphy tapped the toe of his stick and soared high into the netting.
Shortly after the expiration of the Buckeye penalty, Notre Dame was called for cross-checking at 8:52 and the Irish were tasked with killing off their second infraction of the night.
The Irish opted for the extra attacker with 2:19 to play after the Buckeyes iced the puck and thought they had the tying goal as Cole Knuble’s one-timer went through the legs of Eberly in the OSU net but a net front scramble resulted in the puck behind the…