Providence College Edges Past Notre Dame, 3-2
Junior forward Kevin Rooney scores two goals for Friars

Junior forward Kevin Rooney scored two goals for the Friars
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
2nd 5:16  PRV1-0 EV Kevin Rooney (5)Josh Monk/3, Steven McParland/4
2nd 7:32  NDM1-1 PP Robbie Russo (12)Anders Bjork/10
2nd 9:19  PRV2-1 EV Ross Mauermann (8)Tom Parisi/10, Brian Pinho/9
2nd 13:26  PRV3-1 EV GW Kevin Rooney (6)Steven McParland/5, Jake Walman/9
2nd 19:58  NDM2-3 PP Sam Herr (9)Anders Bjork/11, Robbie Russo/15
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Providence  0303
Notre Dame  0202
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Providence  13121035
Notre Dame  146525
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Providence (18-10-2)  0/5 3/6 0
Notre Dame (13-15-4)  2/3 5/10 0
Providence Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Jon Gillies (W, 16-10-2)60:002 144523
Notre Dame Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Cal Petersen (L, 8-12-2)59:093 1391032
Empty Net0:510     

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Wintry weather enveloped South Bend on Saturday and fans either arriving late to Notre Dame's hockey game at the Compton Family Ice Arena, or leaving it early, missed none of the offensive action as all five goals were scored in a frantic second period. Unfortunately for the home fans, three of the five second period goals came from No. 10 Providence College, lifting the Friars (18-10-2, 10-7-1 Hockey East) to a 3-2 win over the Irish (13-15-4, 8-6-4) and a split of the weekend series.

The first period saw a lot of offensive action, with the Irish taking 14 shots and the Friars 13, but no goals would be scored.

A night after Notre Dame won by a 2-0 shutout, Providence finally notched its first goal of the series against the Irish 5:16 into the second period. Josh Monk's shot from the point was tipped at the top of the crease by Kevin Rooney and found its way past Petersen. The goal was the first allowed by Petersen in 137:53 of game action and it was the first time that Providence has scored against Notre Dame in 156:27 of game time dating back to last season.

The game did not stay tied for long. Just 2:16 after the Friar strike, Notre Dane notched the equalizer to level the score at 1-1. On the power play, Anders Bjork intercepted a failed Providence clearing attempt and passed it back to Robbie Russo at the point. The newly-minted Irish captain unloaded a blast that found its way through traffic and into the net for his 12th goal of the year. Russo continues to lead all defensemen nationally in goals scored with his 12.

With Russo's goal, Notre Dame has now scored on the power play in 10 of its last 11 games. Notre Dame scored on the power play in just four of its first 21 games this year, tallying six times.

Providence retook the lead 1:47 after Russo's goal when Ross Mauermann notched his eighth goal of the year on the rebound of a Tom Parisi shot The Friars extended their lead to 3-1 with 6:34 left in the second period when Steven McParland stole the puck and rushed up ice. His scoring bid went well wide of Petersen but Rooney was in the right spot to collect the rebound off of the end boards and deposit the puck in the net.

In soccer, it's an own goal. In hockey, it's Sam Herr's goal. Either way, Notre Dame scored on the power play with two seconds remaining in the second period to cut its deficit to 3-2 heading to intermission. Herr carried the puck straight towards the net with time ticking down in the period. Herr's pass across the crease to Vince Hinostroza never reached him, as it was deflected by a Friar defenseman through goalie Jon Gillies' legs for an Irish score.

Herr's goal was the second of the night on the power play for Notre Dame. Providence had not yielded two power play goals in the same game since Merrimack tallied twice with a man advantage on Nov. 7, 2014. Notre Dame went a combined three for six on the power play this weekend.

The Irish got perhaps their best scoring opportunity of the scoreless third period when Vince Hinostroza was sent in all alone on Gillies after a long pass through the neutral zone, but his shot would go off of the post and wide at 16:12. The contest saw the end of Hinostroza's eight-game point scoring streak. Notre Dame killed three third period penalties but didn't get a goal of its own at the offensive end and the final score remained 3-2. Gillies made 23 saves on the night while Petersen ended up with 32.

The Irish play their last regular-season road series of the year next weekend, heading to Boston to face No. 3 Boston University Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m.