I've often noted that many of Notre Dame's better teams

have been great third period teams. Early on in the season in fact we were doing well in that regard, outscoring opponents 16-6 in the third period on the way to the 7-0-1 start. Since then Notre Dame has managed just 6 third period goals in 15 games, and only 2 in the last nine games. Since the opening unbeaten streak, they've been outscored 21-6 in the third period.

You won't win a lot of games like that, especially when you are struggling to score anyway. To me this is a huge issue. It shows a lack of focus. It shows a lack of leadership when a team is more often than not unable to play 60 minutes. I wonder too if it shows a lack of conditioning or toughness.

I also think I'd like to see Bishel get the majority of time in the net from here on out. It would be nice if the team knew going into next year he can handle more than a fill-in role, or the 1 or 2 games Jackson has been giving a back-up goalie for years now. It might be the only thing this team accomplishes the rest of the way because right now there is nothing that makes me think this team is going to play beyond the first weekend of March.