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Notre Dame cruises past Superior

By WiPH Staff, 03/01/12, 8:37PM CST

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Nell stops 34 shots in marquee match-up



Many have said that this game is a prime reason for seeding the state tournament. #1 in the state facing #2, with Notre Dame facing Superior.

Notre Dame might not have run away on the ice, but on the scoreboard they earned a commanding 5-1 win over Superior in Thursday quarterfinal action at the Alliant Energy Center.

The first period was scoreless, with Superior holding a 12-5 shot edge.

NDA would score first, with Jason Reynolds lunging for and knocking in a rebound of a shot from the point at the 5:21 mark of the second. Luke Davison and Grant Kluesner earned helpers on the play.

Just under two minutes later, Jason Zirbel scored when Superior goalie Scott Crawford dove to cover the puck, only to have it bounce out to Zirbel in the mid-slot. Reynolds and Riley Christensen were given assists on the play.

Superior would cut the lead to 2-1 over four minutes later.

Daniel Litchke wove his way through he defense and snuck a backhander past NDA goalie Chris Nell at 11:59. 

The period ended with shots tied at eleven.

The Tritons scored twice in a span of 28 seconds in the third to--for all intents and purposes--put the game away.

Tony Stillwell scored on the power play at 2:12 to make it 3-1. Then less than a half-minute later, Brett Gruber wristed a shot from the left circle past Crawford to make it 4-1, with assists to the Davison boys (Luke and Tim).

Stillwell would add the final tally at 15:14 on another power play goal.

Superior held an 11-10 shot advantage in the period.

Nell made 33 saves for the Tritons, while Crawford stopped 21 pucks for the Spartans.

NDA moves to 25-3, while Superior drops to 15-10-1.

WiPH Game Summaries