Give the Michigan hockey team credit: in this roller coaster season, no matter where you are on the ride, the Wolverines usually find a way to make every game interesting.

Down three goals to the top-ranked team in the nation, with the home crowd uncharacteristically quiet, Michigan produced arguably their best third period this semester, only to fall 3-2 to Notre Dame at Yost Ice Arena.

Armed with an extra skater and with 25.9 seconds remaining, a flurry of shots came at Fighting Irish goaltender Jordan Pierce. The senior netminder tried covering up the puck with his stomach, only to have it squirt loose from under him. Wolverine junior defenseman Steve Kampfer batted the puck in for what appeared to be the tying goal, only to have it waved off.

An official review upheld the original decision, and Michigan couldn't muster any further energy or scoring chances. Regardless of the ruling, the Wolverines were working their way out of an incredibly deep hole against the nation's best.

After a number of botched scoring chances Friday night, Notre Dame finally received some good fortune eight minutes into Saturday's contest.

Michigan senior forward Tim Miller got control of the puck in his own zone and sent a pass right to Fighting Irish winger Calle Ridderwall. Wolverine sophomore goaltender Bryan Hogan anticipated a shot and went down to his knees, only for Ridderwall to send a pass to Billy Maday near the left door-step. Mayday redirected the puck off his skate and past Hogan, who was on the ice and out of position.

Four minutes into the second frame, Notre Dame took advantage of another break. Winger Ryan Thang charged through the slot with Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer breathing down his neck. Kampfer appeared to take a whack at Thang's midsection with his stick and then took him down from behind after Thang fired a shot. The officials awarded Notre Dame a penalty shot.

Thang made good on his second chance, flipping a high wrister over Hogan's glove and extending Notre Dame's lead to 2-0. His ninth marker of the season was the first penalty shot goal allowed by Michigan at Yost Ice Arena since 1997.

The Fighting Irish blew the the game open thanks to pinpoint execution. With 13 minutes remaining the second period, Mayday skated into the left circle and found linemate Kevin Deeth on the goal line. Deeth then made a pretty touch pass to Ridderwall in front of the crease, who sent the puck over Hogan's glove for the 3-0 lead.

The Wolverine offense finally woke up in the third period. Five minutes into the frame, sophomore forward Aaron Palushaj picked up the puck in front of a minor scrum in front of the net and flicked a high wrist shot past goaltender Jordan Pierce for Michigan's first tally of the night. Palushaj's ninth goal marked his first since Dec. 5th against Michigan State.

Palushaj helped cut Notre Dame's lead to one just four minutes later, sending a bullet crossing pass by two Fighting Irish defenders and right to freshman Robbie Czarnik's stick. Czarnik poked the puck into the open net, making it a 3-2 game.

Michigan registered 14 shots on goal in the third period, but missed a couple of crossing passes in front of the crease that had Pierce well out of position. Poor luck and defensive breakdowns proved to be too much for the Wolverines to overcome.

Still, there is some solace in a series-split with Notre Dame. Just one night before, Michigan ended the Fighting Irish's 20-game unbeaten streak, on the road no less. But the subpar execution in Saturday's first and second periods, along with a questionable call, illustrated that the roller coaster isn't ending any time soon.