NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Notre Dame freshman Connor Hurley was the hero Friday night, scoring 1:44 into overtime to lift the Fighting Irish to a 3-2 win over Merrimack.
Fighting Irish coach Jeff Jackson said after the game that the contest was a “typical Hockey East game.”
“It was a hard-fought game,” said Jackson. “We were fortunate to score first. It was a tough game.”
The first period featured back-and-forth action between the two teams, but Notre Dame got the scoring started when Vince Hinostroza found a loose puck in a net-front scramble to put the Fighting Irish up 1-0 just 4:44 into the first.
With just over four minutes played in the opening period, Merrimack goalie Rasmus Tirronen came up with a big save on a Notre Dame two-on-one chance. The physicality picked up when the Warriors’ Jonathan Lashyn laid a huge hit along the bench on Hinostroza.
The second period saw quick action with Merrimack getting back in it early on. Both teams again were not able to capitalize on their man-advantage chances with quality work being done by both penalty killing units. Only 42 seconds in, Merrimack’s Brian Christie scored on a give-and-go from Justin Mansfield to tie the game 1-1.
Three minutes into the period, Jared Kolquist was guilty of a hook that sent Notre Dame to the man advantage. In the latter half of the power play, Steven Fogarty had a great chance as he came up the wall and fired a shot from the faceoff dot that rang the post.
With 13 minutes left to go in the period, Merrimack was on the power play when Anders Bjork had a shorthanded chance, but was stopped by Tirronen to keep the score 1-1.
Then with just over five minutes to go in the period, Andy Ryan seemed to score on a mad scramble in front of Tirronen. The call on the ice was good, but the play went to review. The goal would stand after review and Notre Dame skated to the second intermission up 2-1.
Just five minutes into the third period, Brett Seney tied the game as his great individual effort deked through the neutral zone and roofed the puck top shelf to beat Chad Katunar.
That set the stage for Hurley’s overtime game-winner.
“I didn’t think we played very well, to be honest with you,” Warriors’ coach Mark Dennehy said. “A lot of it had to do with our opponent. They make you pretty uncomfortable. We had moments. The second period was probably our best period. When we sustained our forecheck, we were in good shape, but we didn’t do it as much as we liked.”
