Spartans, No. 16 Notre Dame Play to 1-1 Tie

NOTRE DAME, Indiana – Michigan State goaltender Drew DeRidder made a season-high 47 saves as the Spartans and No. 16 Notre Dame played to a 1-1 tie on Saturday night at Compton Family Ice Arena. Tommy Apap scored for the Spartans, while Alex Steeves tied the game in the second period for UND.

"It was an interesting game. I thought our guys battled hard, I think that's something that we'll take through to tomorrow," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "It was a good battle for the guys - too bad we couldn't have gotten the extra point. Drew played outstanding. I love the effort and attitude, now we just have to tighten up a few things."

The Spartans (2-3-2, 1-3-1-1-0-0) were able to extinguish three Notre Dame power plays in the third period, including three minutes of a major penalty. Then in OT, MSU again found itself shorthanded with 1:46 to go, but was able to fend off the Irish, ending the game 1-1.

Notre Dame (4-4-1, 3-3-1-0-0-1) won the shootout, 2-0, to earn an extra point in the Big Ten standings.

Matching penalties just over 12 minutes into the first period led to good things for the Spartans as a minute after Josh Nodler rang the crossbar from the left circle, Apap banged in a rebound to make it 1-0.

Apap started the play by forcing a turnover at the Notre Dame blue line and taking control. The puck eventually got back to Dennis Cesana, who worked toward the center of the blue line and let go a low shot. The puck got deflected and Apap, who was just off the right post, got a stick on it eventually trickled past goaltender Ryan Bischel with 5:44 to go in the period.

Notre Dame tied the game with 5:42 to play in the second period when Steeves got open off the right side of the crease and one-time a pass from Graham Slaggert into the net.

DeRidder made 19 saves in the third period and then seven more in overtime. Eight of the third-period shots came over the three Irish power plays, while the junior goaltender turned away four shots on UND's 1:46 of power-play time in OT.

MSU had one power play chance in each of the first two periods, while it erased all four Notre Dame power plays.

UND outshot the Spartans 48-20 for the game.

The two teams will close the series on Sunday at 5 p.m.

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Team Stats

Tommy Apap

Mitchell Lewandowski

Dennis Cesana

Christian Krygier

Players Mentioned

Dennis Cesana

Josh Nodler

Players Mentioned

Dennis Cesana

Josh Nodler