The second and third place teams in the Big Ten opened up their weekend series as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish welcome the no. 5 Minnesota Golden Gophers to Compton Family Ice Arena on Friday night. For the first time all season, the Irish entered the contest riding a three game winning streak. The Gophers, who the Irish swept last month, were out-scored 12-2 while being swept by the Wisconsin Badgers last weekend.
First Period
Gophers goaltender and captain Jack LaFontaine was tested early when a Landon Slaggert shot hit the post in the opening minute.