John Mersits / USA TODAY NETWORKNew York Islanders prospects Danny Nelson, Quinn Finley, and Zach Schulz took the spotlight in Friday night’s matchup between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Univerity of Wisconsin Badgers.
The three Islanders prospects combined for seven points, all of which were primary, as the Badgers came out on top 7-3 to end their six-game skid.
Finley made his first mark on the scoresheet at 8:10 of the opening period with a slick setup to Ryland Mosley.
The Islanders prospect entered the offensive zone with possession, using his strength to power toward the net despite pressure from the 210-pound defenseman, Michael Mastrodomenico.
With a quick spin, Finley delivered a backhand pass to Mosley in front of the net, who capitalized to break the ice:
At 14:30 of the first period, Islanders prospects struck again as Finley set up Schulz at the blue line.
Schulz crept his way toward the top of the slot before ripping a wrist shot past Washington Capitals prospect Nicholas Kempf:
The Badgers entered the first intermission with a commanding 4-0 lead, but Notre Dame responded quickly to start the second period.
Just 27 seconds in, Nelson led an odd-man rush down the ice, setting up Philadelphia Flyers prospect Cole Knuble who lifted a backhand shot past Tommy Scarfone’s blocker:
Minutes later, Nelson once again found the scoresheet, this time with a goal.
Hovering in the slot on the power play, Nelson received a feed from Blake Biondi before firing it bar down past Scarfone:
This was Nelson’s 12th goal of the season.
Despite Notre Dame narrowing the gap to two, Wisconsin quickly regained control with two goals in a 30-second span midway through the second, extending their lead to 6-2 heading into the final frame.
After Notre Dame successfully killed off a 5-on-3, Nelson notched his second primary assist and third point of the night at 3:42.
Receiving a pass from Knuble, he fired a wrist shot on goal which deflected toward Justin Janicke, who swatted it out of the air for his 12th tally of the season:
With the assist, Nelson recorded his 23rd point of the season, tying his season total from the 2023-24 season.
Staying on script, the Badgers scored the game’s 10th and final goal minutes later, once again at the hands of an Islanders prospect.
At 13:19, Finley fired a powerful wrist shot from the blue line that was tipped by Mosley before passing Kempf’s glove:
While Finley continued his goal drought, he recorded his third assist of the night – all primary – as he ended his six-game pointless streak in fashion.
Finley and Nelson each finished the night with three points each, while Schulz continued to dominate atop the Badgers’ top defense pair with a goal and plus-minus rating of +4.
The two schools will face off again tonight to conclude the back-to-back, once again at Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Michael Ostrower contributed to this report.