Hockey East Friday Night Recap: Notre Dame Shuts Out Merrimack in Conference Home Opener

South Bend, Ind. -- Notre Dame shut out Merrimack, 4-0, to win the first ever Hockey East conference game played at the Compton Family Ice Arena. Peter Schneider scored twice, and Mario Lucia and Ali Thomas each tallied one goal. Senior Steven Summerhays made 31 saves in the victory. It was his ninth career shutout and third on the season.

The loss could be even more painful for Merrimack as senior Mike Collins appeared to suffer an injury during the game. Sam Marotta stopped 26 of 29 shots faced in the loss. Merrimack is now 0-3 in Hockey East and is winless on the season against all non-Atlantic Hockey Association opponents.

UMass 2, Boston College 2 (OT)

Brendan Gracel scored on a five-minute major power play with 1:26 to play in regulation to force overtime. It was his second goal in as many nights, and he also assisted on the first UMass goal of the game. Neither team could break the tie in the extra session. Freshman Ray Pigozzi scored in the first period to give the Minutemen a 1-0 lead. Boston College answered right back with two quick goals from freshmen Ryan Fitzgerald and Austin Cangelosi.

Providence 3, Vermont 2

Ross Mauermann scored twice, and Noel Acciari scored a shorthanded goal to give the visiting Friars a 3-2 victory over Vermont. The pair of goals gave Mauermann nine for the season in just 10 games. Mario Puskarich and Mike Stenerson scored for the Catamounts. UVM peppered Providence goaltender Jon Gillies with 39 shots, but he turned aside 37 of them for the victory.

UMass-Lowell  3, Penn State 2

Joe Gambardella, Stephen Buco and Adam Chapie scored for the River Hawks as Norm Bazin's team swept Big 10 foe Penn State in the two-game series in Happy Valley. The River Hawks won all three nonconference games on the week, including Tuesday's victory over Princeton.

Maine 7, Boston University 0

Freshmen line adds fire power to Maine offense

New Hampshire 3, Northeastern 0

Huskies shutout for first time all season as Wildcats win fourth straight

More from SBN College Hockey:

• New Hampshire Stymies Potent Northeastern Offense In Hockey East Matchup
• Maine Dominates Boston University in Battle of First Year Head Coaches
• Miami Shuts Out Wisconsin 2-0
• Hockey East Friday Night Recap: Notre Dame Shuts Out Merrimack in Conference Home Opener
• Gophers Hockey: Minnesota defeats Minnesota State 4-1 Friday

Jeff Cox covers college and junior hockey, NCAA recruiting, NHL Draft prospects and the AHL for SBNation. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.