After Notre Dame got a two-goal performance from leading scorer Rob Globke Friday, Nebraska-Omaha returned the favor Saturday as captain and leading scorer David Brisson registered two goals in a Mavericks 5-3 win.
Brisson scored the tying goal and the empty-net insurance goal in front of the largest crowd so far this season at the Civic Auditorium.
“Our goal was to play physical and get rebounds,” Brisson said. “And special teams won the game for us tonight.”
UNO scored two power-play goals on four chances, simultaneously holding Notre Dame 0-for-3.
Yan Stastny scored two goals for Notre Dame as well, giving him three on the weekend.
UNO registered 37 shots on goal and played away from the strength of Notre Dame goaltender Morgan Cey by shooting stick-side and popping in rebounds. UNO scored three rebound goals in the game.
“We we’re recognizing it tonight. In the first period we saw some of the meaty rebounds coming,” Kemp said. “Morgan has a great glove and we were going to his glove last night an awful lot. We really worked on going to the feet and it worked out.”
This was just the sixth time that UNO had over 35 shots on goal, in which the Mavericks are 4-1-1. Still, Irish coach Dave Poulin said his team played a better game Saturday than Friday.
“In terms of 60 minutes, I think we played a better 60 minutes tonight,” Poulin said. “I thought we played a better second period, but our killers got tired. They finished better tonight.”
Notre Dame had three penalties in a row in the late first and second periods.
Josh Weeks put UNO on the board early with his second career goal. Weeks collected a rebound in his feet, kicked the puck to his stick and swept it through Cey.
Stastny’s first goal, at 10:05 of the first, tied the game at 1-1. Stastny broke free in the Maverick zone and fought off a defender for the shot, absorbed his own rebound and scored.
UNO scored its first of two power-play goals 8:15 into the second period. Joel Andresen scored his third goal of the year off another rebound left by Cey from the shot of Joe Pereira.
Notre Dame again tied the game on Stastny’s second goal. While on his stomach, lying on the near side of the cage, Stastny swept the puck far side past UNO goalie Dan Ellis.
Eleven seconds later, the Irish would have their only lead of the game. Jake Weigand skated in off the draw and scored to put ND up 3-2.
Brisson said of losing the lead so suddenly: “When you’re playing well and then they get two quick goals like that, it’s a punch in the face.”
However, UNO scored three third-period goals, including Brisson’s two to earn the win.
Brisson’s backhander through the five-hole tied the game at 6:49 of the third, and Dan Hacker’s garbage goal at 12:10 proved to be the game-winner. Brisson’s empty-netter with 11 seconds left closed Irish eyes.
“It’s so difficult in this league to sweep the way it is,” Poulin said. “We knew they were going to compete tonight.”
