Baylis' Shorthanded Goal Highlights 3-3 Tie Against Alabama Huntsville

Friday, December 8

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:37PM

Bowling Green State University

Alabama Huntsville

Baylis' Shorthanded Goal Highlights 3-3 Tie Against Alabama Huntsville

December 08, 2017 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: Katherine Harvath (Athletic Communications Intern)

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – After gaining an early, the Bowling Green hockey team (7-5-6, 6-2-5 WCHA) battled back in the third period to earn a 3-3 NCAA tie and steal a critical WCHA point against Alabama Huntsville (6-9-2, 5-4-2 WCHA), to preserve its first-place league standing. The teams both saw a plethora of chances during the first two overtime periods, however no one could capitalize on the shots. In two rounds of shootouts, Alabama-Huntsville ultimately skated away with an extra WCHA point.

Box Score
Photo Gallery
McLain Goal Call 1-0
Baylis Shorthanded Goal Call 2-2
McDonald Goal Call 3-3

The Falcons are now on a four-game unbeaten streak, a run that posts a win and three ties. They head into the final game of the first half of the season with an overall record of 7-5-6.

Scoring Plays

After the initial shot from freshman Justin Wells went wide left, fellow freshman Sam Craggs fed the puck to senior Mitch McLain who buried it deep into a wide-open net just 1:16 into the game. The goal marks a team-leading seventh of the season for McLain.
As sophomore Lukas Craggs waited in the box for slashing, junior Stephen Baylis picked up a puck in the neutral zone and broke free of two Charger defenders. After his first shot bounced off the pads of UAH's goaltender Jordan Uhelski then onto the stick of senior Brett D'Andrea, it was passed back to Baylis who shot the puck into the top shelf to tie the game at two with his second shorthanded goal of the season.
With 10:10 remaining in regulation, junior Connor McDonald found the back of the net after a quick pass sequence from freshman Brandon Kruse and D'Andrea wound its way back to him. The goal, his second of the season, tied the game at three apiece.

Key Plays

Just 9:52 into the game, the Falcons saw a five-minute major power play opportunity as a Charger was sent to the locker room after checking from behind. Although the Falcons came up short on the power play, they peppered UAH goalie Jordan Uhelski with plenty of shots in the final minute of the man advantage.
UAH pounded freshman goaltender Eric Dop with shots during the first few minutes of the second period. He stood tall and rejected each one during the Falcons penalty kill just 2:32 in.
The Chargers saw nearly six straight minutes of power play action at the beginning of the second period as sophomore Frederic Letourneau, Lukas Craggs and junior Matt Meier all spent time in the box. The penalty kill was tested and came up huge as the Chargers went empty handed on all three chances, including a brief 5-on-3 advantage.
With just under two minutes to play in the middle frame, the Falcons were denied a 2-on-1 chance as McLain's pass to S. Craggs was smothered by the goalie. The Chargers responded with a breakaway chance of their own but Dop was quick to toss the shot aside.
In the final three minutes of regulation the penalty kill unit was tested again as sophomore Alec Rauhauser was sent off for cross-checking. They managed to kill the penalty, keeping the score tied at three as they headed into the final minute of the third.

Statistical Standouts

The Falcons successfully killed all seven penalties on the night, plus one in 3-on-3 play, allowing just six shots on goal during the kills and recording one shorthanded goal. On the other side, they went 0-3 with the man advantage, managing just three shots on goal during their chances.
Dop recorded 21 saves and improved his record in net to 4-3-2.
In 2017-18, the team is undefeated when McLain scores a goal (4-0-2).
With the goal tonight, McDonald is on a two-game point streak (1-1-2).
S. Craggs and D'Andrea are also on two-game point streaks after picking up the first assists on the McLain and Baylis goals (both 1-1-2).
Overall, the Falcons outshot Alabama Huntsville 27-24 through the regulatory 65:00 of action, including a high of 10 in the second period. While McDonald led the squad with four shots on goal, the Falcons were well-rounded by four other players earning three shots a piece.
Bowling Green went 0-for-3 on the power play, and killed all seven of its penalties in regulation time.

WCHA Shootout

Christian Rajic (UAH) – good
Max Johnson (BGSU) – good
Brandon Salerno (UAH) – good
Brandon Kruse (BGSU) – miss

Postgame Interviews

Coach Bergeron

Stephen Baylis

Up Next

The Falcons will conclude the series against the Chargers tomorrow, Saturday Dec. 9, at the Slater Family Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. to round out the first half of the 2017-18 season. After the break, BGSU returns to the Slater Family Ice Arena for a contest against Western Michigan, to complete the home-and-home series.

Follow the Falcons

For more information on the hockey program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGFalconHockey and @BGAthletics) and now on Instagram (bgfalconhockey) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.