Box Score
SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- The No. 2 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish went a perfect 4-for-4 on the power play to down the Western Michigan hockey team, 4-1, on Friday night in front of a sellout crowd of 2,857 at the Joyce Center.
Western Michigan (2-8-3, 1-5-3-1 CCHA) jumped on the Fighting Irish mid-way through the first period. Steve Silver fired a shot from the near point with Notre Dame goalie Jordan Pearce making the initial save. The rebounded kicked out to Max Campbell who fired it past Pearce for his fourth of the season. Silver picked up his first assist on the season and freshman winger Derek Roehl tallied his second on WMU's seventh first-period goal on the season. But the Fighting Irish answered with four-straight power-play goals to down the Broncos.
While Notre Dame capitalized on every man advantage they had, the Broncos finished 0-for-5 and are 0 for their last 23.
Notre Dame tied the game, 1-1, after the Irish netted their 21st power play goal of the season. Kevin Deeth went top shelf on WMU goaltender Jerry Kuhn from the right of the crease for his third goal of the season.
The Fighting Irish entered Friday night's game first in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ranked at the top in the power play. Notre Dame took the lead on another power-play goal, 2:02 into the second period. Billy Maday hit Calle Ridderwall between the circles, who redirected it in front of the net and passed Kuhn for his sixth goal of the season.
Notre Dame's power play prowess continued late into the second period, notching their third power-play goal of the game. With 2:12 remaining in the period Ridderwall picked up his second goal of the night, knocking in a rebound off of a shot by Hanson to put the Irish up 3-1.
The Fighting Irish added another power play goal with 13:41 remaining in the third period to push the score to 4-1. Billy Maday put in the rebound on a shot by Ridderwall for his eighth of the season. Ridderwall picked up his third point in the game and Hanson added his second assist of the game.
The Broncos will finish the season series with the Fighting Irish on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at the Joyce Center. The game will be broadcast by Comcast Television.
