Hockey Lights the Lamp in 6-2 Victory over Alaska Anchorage

Friday, January 19

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:37PM

Bowling Green State University

13-8-6 (10-4-5WCHA)

Alaska Anchorage

2-17-4 (2-12-3WCHA)

Alaska Anchorage

Bowling Green

January 19, 2018 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: Katherine Harvath (Athletic Communications Intern)

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – In its first game at the Slater Family Ice Arena of 2018, the Bowling Green hockey program (13-8-6, 10-4-5 WCHA) downed the Seawolves of Alaska Anchorage (2-17-4, 2-12-3 WCHA) in a convincing manner. Six Falcons recorded goals and nine tallied points as the teams skated to a 6-2 Bowling Green victory. The Falcons held UAA to a mere 19 shots on goal while recording 34 themselves.

Box Score
Photo Gallery
Wright Goal Call 1-0
Johnson Goal Call 2-0
D'Andrea Goal Call 3-0
McLain Goal Call 4-1
Smith Goal Call 5-1
Spezia Goal Call 6-2

Earning three crucial points in the WCHA standings, the Falcons still hold third place, just eight points away from first place Minnesota State.

Scoring Plays

Period 1 – 6:43 | The Falcons got on the board early after a quick pass from Alec Rauhauser found Cameron Wright who went top shelf, beating UAA's goalie just 6:43 into the game. The goal, coming with just one 00:01 remaining on the power play was Wright's ninth of the season.
Period 1 – 9:37 | After the initial shot from Adam Smith was blocked, Sam Craggs took a shot at the puck that trickled past the goaltender but didn't manage to cross the line. Max Johnson found the loose puck in front of a virtually empty net and buried it deep.
Period 1 – 10:26 | As he was tangled up with a Seawolf, Brett D'Andrea managed to sneak one into the net less than a minute after Johnson's goal. He was assisted by Cameron Wright and Alec Rauhauser just over half way through the first.
Period 1 – 18:12 | With less than two minutes remaining in the first period, Mitch McLain fired a shot stick side, beating UAA's fresh goalie in Claeys to give the Falcons a 4-1 lead. The goal was his team-leading 12th of the season and was assisted by freshman Brandon Kruse.
Period 2 – 1:16 | Early into the second, McLain stole a puck in the defensive zone, passing it to Adam Smith who waited in the faceoff circle to the right of Ryan Bednard. His pass to Tyler Spezia, who stood at center ice, missed its target and found the net instead after sliding through the five-hole of Claeys.
Period 3 – 15:38 | After a couple of passes from Smith and Johnson, Spezia gets sent the puck ringing off the top cross bar and over the line to give the Falcons a 6-2 lead.

Statistical Standouts

The Falcons came out strong, finding the back of the net four times within the first 20 minutes of play.
The first Falcon goal came with the man advantage. They concluded the night 1-for-3 on the power play.
Five Falcons recorded a multi-point night against the Seawolves including Smith (1-2–3), Johnson (1-1–2), McLain (1-1–2), Wright (1-1–2), and Rauhauser (0-2–2)
With their efforts on the first two goals on the night, Wright and Johnson are both on two-game scoring streaks, producing goals in back-to-back games after the Jan. 13 game at Northern Michigan.
Through two periods of play, Bowling Green nearly doubled UAA's shots on goal, registering 23 while holding the Seawolves to just 12 in the first 40:00 of action.
Coming into the night, Smith looked to tally his first point of the season and left with a career-high three-point performance. He did so with his assist on Johnson's goal before adding a goal and another assist in his season point debut. He also led the team with six shots on goal and a plus-4 rating on the ice in the win.
Wright's multi-point effort is his sixth of the season, a team best.
After netting a goal and assist in the win, McLain is riding a season-long six-game point streak, recording four apiece for eight points (4-4-8).
Sophomore defenseman Alec Rauhauser has only been held off the box score if eight of the Falcons 27 games this season, on his way to earning a team-leading 26 points by six goals and 20 assists.
The Falcons were perfect on the penalty kill, stopping all shots fired during the four BGSU penalties. On the flip side, they went 1-for-3 on the power play, scoring with just one second remaining on their first chance with the man advantage.

Postgame Interviews

Coach Bergeron

Mitch McLain

Up Next

The Falcons will face the Seawolves again tomorrow night as it looks to seal the sweep. Puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m.
Be sure to bring teddy bears for the annual Teddy Bear Toss to support Dance Marathon. The toss will take place during the first intermission.

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.