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Period Summaries
Second Period
Well, Patrick Kirtland scored, but Notre Dame had scored a fourth before that. Then Joe Wegwerth scored with a RIDICULOUS bar-down laser from the high slot.
The goal was this amazing...
First Period
A whole lot of nothing happening for the Huskies in the first period. Notre Dame scored three times at 9:04, 13:05 and 16:34 to take a 3-0 lead. It's ugly. The arena is empty. Not even the presence of UConn Twitter figures like the @NoEscalators duo can life the Huskies right now.
UConn Lines
Mike Cavanaugh is shaking up the lines today, after going with essentially the same team against Boston University Tuesday and Notre Dame Saturday. The big changes are on the middle lines. Spencer Naas, a mainstay in the Huskies' lineup, is out today. This was a coach's decision.
With Naas out, Corey Ronan moves from right wing on the third line to left wing on the second line. Max Letunov centers Ronan and Will Golonka, who is making his third appearance of the season. Letunov normally plays with Tage Thompson, but the freshman right winger is now with Ronan's usual linemate, Kasperi Ojantakanen, as well as Marco Richter.
Defensively, UConn stays the same. Kyle Huson and Joona Kunnas are again the scratches.
(NHL prospects have their team listed in parentheses.)
Forward Line 1: Patrick Kirtland, Shawn Pauly, Evan Richardson
Forward Line 2: Corey Ronan, Max Letunov (Phoenix), Will Golonka
Forward Line 3: Marco Richter, Kasperi Ojantakanen, Tage Thompson
Forward Line 4: Karl El-Mir, Max Kalter, Joey Ferriss
Defensive Pair 1: Derek Pratt, Miles Gendron (Ottawa)
Defensive Pair 2: Johnny Austin, Joseph Masonius
Defensive Pair 3: David Drake (Philadelphia), Ryan Segalla (Pittsburgh)
Goaltender: Rob Nichols (3-2-0, 2.01 GAA, .929 SV%)
Notre Dame Lines
Forward Line 1: Thomas DiPauli (Washington), Connor Hurley (Buffalo), Anders Bjork (Boston)
Forward Line 2: Mario Lucia (Minnesota), Steven Fogarty (NY Rangers), Sam Herr
Forward Line 3: Dylan Malmquist, Jake Evans (Montreal), Andrew Oglevie
Forward Line 4: Joe Wegwerth (Florida), Dawson Cook, Ben Ostlie
Defensive Pair 1: Luke Ripley, Jordan Gross
Defensive Pair 2: Dennis Gilbert, Andy Ryan
Defensive Pair 3: Bobby Nardella, Tony Bretzman
Goaltender: Cal Patersen (2-1-2, 2.91 GAA, .913 SV%)
Game Notes
TV: None
Radio: WHUS 91.7 FM
Video and Live Stats: UConnHuskies.com
Series Record: Notre Dame leads 2-0-1
Last Meeting: Notre Dame 2, UConn 1 (Oct. 31, 2015)
Preview
Mike Cavanaugh did not think his team was sharp enough in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Notre Dame. The Huskies were in the game from start to finish, literally, as UConn nearly got a chance at an open net as time expired. But Notre Dame won the important battles. The Irish had control in the face-off circle, winning 34 of 55, which led to more puck possession and more shots, which were 30-15 in favor of Notre Dame.
Sunday, the Huskies will look to turn it around in an unusual setting. UConn is the home team, but the game is being played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The last time a UConn team played in the House That Jay-Z Built, Tyler Olander hit a corner three to lift UConn men's basketball to a win over Maryland in the 2013-14 season opener.
This will be the only home game UConn plays away from the XL Center this season. For the sake of the fact that this is clearly not a home game, let's call it neutral site. The Huskies were 2-3-1 in neutral site games last season. They were 0-2 in home games away from the XL Center.
Notre Dame's win at UConn Saturday earned it two points in its Hockey East opener. The Irish are now 2-1-2 on the season, sporting wins over the Huskies and Penn State, who also handed Notre Dame its lone loss. Notre Dame played to two 3-3 ties with No. 5 Minnesota Duluth at home last weekend.