For the seventh straight NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish began their quest for the school’s first hockey national championship. Awaiting the three-seeded Irish in Albany, NY were the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, who entered the tournament with an overall record of 24-13-1. A perennial college hockey powerhouse, North Dakota entered the tournament looking for their eighth championship, which would tie them for the most all-time.
First Period
It was a defensive showcase early on. Despite only holding the Fighting Hawks to four shots, the Fighting Irish could only rally for five of their own.