NOTRE DAME, Ind. — In front of a sell-out New Year’s Eve crowd, University of Notre Dame hockey head coach Jeff Jackson found a fitting way to send out 2018 at the Compton Family Ice Arena (5,330).
As the sixth-ranked Irish defeated Boston College 4-0 on Monday evening, Jackson earned his 308th career win at Notre Dame to surpass the legendary Lefty Smith (307-320-31) for most coaching wins in Irish hockey history, moving to 308-182-55 in his 14th season at the helm of the Irish.
The Irish (12-5-1) used two power-play goals — one by Matt Hellickson, the other by Colin Theisen — in addition to a point shot from Matt Steeves and an empty-netter by Dylan Malmquist to blow by the Eagles (6-7-2) and close out their non-conference schedule.
Irish goaltender Cale Morris earned first-star honors in a 20-save shutout, his sixth of the season. He came up particularly big in the second period, saving 12 shots from the Eagles, including a behind-the-back reach for a skittering puck that preserved the shutout at the 9:33 mark of the stanza.
Morris’ Eagle counterpart, Joseph Woll, recorded 25 saves and three goals against.
The Irish converted on two of their five power-play chances, while Boston College went 0-for-4 on special teams.
Notre Dame Goal Descriptions
1-0 | Hellickson converted with just two seconds left on Notre Dame’s second power play chance, burying a rebound from Michael Graham in the high right post at the 9:14 mark of the first. Tory Dello also assisted on the play.
2-0 | Just 34 seconds later, Steeves staked the Irish to a two-goal lead with his wrist shot from the blue line, assisted by Nate Clurman and Spencer Stastney — his first career point with the Irish.
3-0 | Theisen increased the Irish cushion, flipping the puck from the slot with 21 seconds left in another Irish power play at 7:17 of the third period. Bobby Nardella and Andrew Peeke provided the assisting passes.
4-0 | Malmquist scored his sixth goal of the season on an empty net at 17:14 of the third, assisted by Jack Jenkins and Cal Burke.
With Notre Dame match report
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