The schedule may have indicated the Michigan hockey team's first Maize Out of the season, but instead the Wolverines saw their Friday night blues continued.

Notre Dame generated two third-period goals, including the game-winner just 95 seconds in, to knock off the No. 9-ranked Wolverines, 3-1, Friday night at Yost Ice Arena.

For the Wolverines (5-3-3, 4-2-1 CCHA), the third-period collapse continued a season-long trend of not playing well in the opening game of weekend series. Michigan fell to 1-3-1 on Friday nights, with its only victory coming Oct. 8 at Bowling Green.

"Obviously, it's in the back of our minds, but we can't dwell on the fact that we don't play well on Friday night," captain Luke Glendening said. "We have to break out of it some time."

Michigan managed to stay even with the CCHA-leading Irish over the first two periods behind senior goalie Shawn Hunwick, who made 18 of his 30 saves during the first 40 minutes.

But when Hunwick was slow in shifting in net after a Notre Dame shot clanked off the right post early in the third period, the Irish took advantage. Kevin Lind fired a rebound through a Michigan defender and past Hunwick, giving the Irish a 2-1 lead.

Unlike the first period, when the Wolverines needed only 9 seconds to answer Notre Dame's first goal, Michigan couldn't answer Lind's game-winner.

The Irish (7-2-1, 5-1-1 CCHA) fended off Michigan until Calle Ridderwall padded the lead with 9:12 remaining, giving the Wolverines another Friday night disappointment to stew over for 24 hours.

"It was too easy and that's all they needed," Michigan coach Red Berenson said of Notre Dame's second goal. "They're a strong defensive team and we needed to answer right away and we couldn't."

Michigan tallied its only goal in the first period on Carl Hagelin's breakaway just 3:10 into the game. The Wolverines had countless chances around the Notre Dame net, but couldn't register any more scoring.

Hunwick kept the Wolverines even throughout the second period, making a couple key saves on Notre Dame breakaway chances. But even with Hunwick playing well and the Wolverines playing penalty-free hockey for the first time this season, Michigan's lack of offensive firepower was too much to overcome.

Especially once Notre Dame recaptured the lead so early in the final period.

"You're not going to win many games scoring one goal," Berenson said.

Michigan will look to salvage the weekend Saturday night, hoping to remain unbeaten in series finales this season.

And as much of a concern as Friday night letdowns continue to be, the Wolverines hope to again deliver on the night following a loss to avoid being swept for the first time this season.

"We got off to a good start (Friday night) and we were all feeling well and the preparation was there," Hagelin said. "So there's a lot of frustration and there's a lot of guys that aren't happy how they played in the third period, me included.

"But we know we're good on Saturdays and so that should give us something for tomorrow."

Jeff Arnold covers Michigan hockey for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at (734) 623-2554 or by e-mail at jeffarnold@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.