MINNEAPOLIS — Heading into this weekend’s series with Notre Dame, Minnesota was looking to not just get shots on net against Fighting Irish standout goaltender Cale Morris.
The Golden Gophers wanted quality chances. In the teams’ first series in South Bend, Indiana, earlier this season, Minnesota managed two goals in two games against Morris.
“It’s going to take us getting more shots on net,” Minnesota forward Jack Ramsey said earlier this week. “We need to get into those painted areas.”
On Friday, it seemed like not much had changed for the Gophers as they entered overtime in a scoreless tie with No. 1 Notre Dame. In the extra session, however, Minnesota got a much-needed jolt of offense as Gophers forward Casey Mittelstedt knocked in a loose puck past Morris to give No. 13 Minnesota a 1-0, overtime win over the Big Ten-leading Irish.
In their first two meetings, the Gophers (16-12-1, 7-9-1-1) constantly pressured Morris with a combined 86 shots in the two-game series. Minnesota found itself peppering Morris once again on Friday. The Gophers put 31 shots on goal through regulation. Unfortunately, they couldn’t capitalize.
Defensively, Minnesota stood tall. It started with Gophers netminder Mat Robson. He and the Minnesota defense were able to hold down the high-powered Notre Dame (19-5-1, 13-2-0) attack, which hadn’t lost a true road game until Friday.
“I’m lucky because the guys in front of me made it easy on me tonight,” Robson said. “I’m also trying to make the plays easier for them. It’s a lot of communication.”
While the Gophers had put more pressure on the Irish defense, the stakes were turned up a notch when Notre Dame had a power play with under three minutes left in regulation. Minnesota was able to kill of the penalty and get the game to the extra session.
“We didn’t crack,” said Gophers head coach Don Lucia. “That was the big thing for us. We stayed with it.
“We sensed it was going to be a one-goal game.”
In overtime, Mittelstedt and the Gophers continued to attack. With just 1:25 left before the game was deemed a tie and went to a shootout, the Minnesota freshman got the puck into the offensive zone. After a Rem Pitlick shot stayed in the crease, Mittelstedt pounced on the opportunity and sent the 3M Arena at Mariucci crowd into a frenzy.
For the Eden Prairie, Minnesota, native, Friday’s goal is a long time coming for someone who grew up going to Minnesota games in his youth.
“It’s something you can’t really explain,” Mittelstedt said. “It’s something you think about quite a bit growing up. A special moment for sure.”
For the Gophers, Friday’s win is another feather in their cap. It’s the second time this season Robson and Minnesota have taken down the No. 1 team in the country. The Gophers defeated St. Cloud State 2-0 on Jan. 7 as Robson earned the shutout while stopping 34 shots.
Unlike Minnesota’s last win over a top-ranked team, the Gophers will have a chance to make it two consecutive wins over a top-ranked foe on Saturday.
“I know we can compete with the top teams in the country,” Robson said. “I like to think that if we get one or two goals we can win any game.”
