Gophers Men's Hockey Loses to Notre Dame

Minnesota squanders lead in 3-2 defeat against Fighting Irish

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The University of Minnesota men's hockey team lost 3-2 to Notre Dame on Saturday night, despite taking an early 1-0 lead in the first period. The Gophers were unable to hold onto their advantage as the Fighting Irish rallied to score three unanswered goals and hand Minnesota its latest defeat.

Why it matters

The loss is another setback for the Gophers, who have struggled to maintain leads and close out games this season. Minnesota's inability to protect leads has been a recurring issue, raising concerns about the team's resilience and ability to finish strong in close contests.

The details

Minnesota opened the scoring in the first period with an even-strength goal by Cal Thomas. However, Notre Dame responded with three unanswered goals to take the lead and ultimately secure the victory. The game went to a shootout, but the Gophers were unable to prevail.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the first period with Cal Thomas's goal at 6:21.

The players

Cal Thomas

A Minnesota Gophers hockey player who scored the team's lone goal in the first period.

University of Minnesota

The college hockey team that suffered a 3-2 defeat against Notre Dame.

Notre Dame

The opposing team, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who rallied to score three unanswered goals and defeat the Gophers.

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The takeaway

The Gophers' inability to protect leads and close out games has been a recurring issue this season, raising concerns about the team's resilience and ability to perform in close contests. This latest defeat against Notre Dame underscores the need for the Gophers to address these shortcomings and find ways to maintain their advantage and secure victories.