Notre Dame had the luck of the Irish on its side for the past 20 games, all of them either wins or ties.

But as a crowd of Wolverines gathered around sophomore goaltender Bryan Hogan, who’s 28 saves preserved a 2-1 Michigan victory over No. 1 Notre Dame, the Wolverines knew they accomplished something special themselves.

In a game with a playoff atmosphere, dominated by goaltending and defense, Hogan made saves in the final frame, and Michigan’s defense stifled all Notre Dame scoring opportunities, clearing the puck when necessary and blocking key shots at the end of the game to give Michigan the big win.

Senior Tim Miller scored the game winning goal at the beginning of the second period, his fourth game winner of the season, an unassisted goal off a faceoff.

Miller took the faceoff, but neither player one it clearly. Miller then battled for the puck and got his stick over the legs of his opponent and lifted a wrist shot behind the stick side of Notre Dame goaltender Jordan Pearce.

The game had all the excitement that it was billed to have and though Michigan’s one goal lead was precarious, it held up to be the difference.

The star of the game was clearly both goaltenders. Both had fluke goals scored against them and both kept their team in it.

The second period proved to be the difference, with both teams scoring goals and Michigan keeping a 2-1 lead.

Though the Wolverines had two penalties called against them back to back and had just one power play themselves, Michigan killed off all three penalties and held a 2-0 lead halfway through the period. But the Wolverines couldn’t keep the Irish off the board.

On a broken play, when the puck bounced between players in the crease, Notre Dame’s Rayn Guentzel brought the score to within one for Notre Dame.

Michigan had several opportunities to score in the final minutes of the second period. Turnbull nearly added another tally, and freshman forward Robbie Czarnik had a breakaway, but couldn’t get a shot off before Pearce poke checked the puck to the corner.

And sophomore Aaron Palushaj had a chance on a late power play but directed the one timer from Matt Rust wide of the goal.

Even though the Fighting Irish dominated most of the first period, it was Michigan that drew first blood.

Senior Travis Turnbull made Notre Dame pay after they turned the puck over to the senior. He skated down through the offensive zone to Pearce’s left before deking the Irish goaltender and lifting the puck backhanded over Pearce’s right shoulder.

Turbull’s goal with 3:01 remaining in the first period gave Michigan a 1-0 lead.

But the Turnbull goal wasn’t the only thing that went Michigan’s way in a tumultuous opening period. Apparently the Irish didn’t have luck on their side.

Notre Dame held a 16-11 advantage in shots on goal and nearly snuck a goal or two past Hogan. But in one case, the sophomore netminder got a toe on the puck to deflect it past the net and on other chances, Notre Dame’s players weren’t able to corral bouncing or loose pucks in front of the Michigan goal.

Michigan had further reason for concern in the final seconds of the period when freshman defenseman Brandon Burlon fell to the ice with an apparent injury. Burlon quickly flung his glove one of his hands, but it didn’t seem that his hands were injured. Burlon played the rest of the game.

Michigan will play the Irish once again at Yost Ice Arena tomorrow. The Fighting Irish lead the CCHA with 32 points. Michigan sits in third place with 26 points tied with Alaska.