Hockey Soars Past Alaska Anchorage with Four-Goal Third Period

Thursday, February 15

Anchorage, Alaska

11:07PM

Bowling Green State University

18-9-6, 15-5-5WCHA

Alaska Anchorage

2-25-4, 2-20-3WCHA

Bowling Green

Alaska Anchorage

February 16, 2018 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: Jenna Jorgensen (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Bowling Green hockey program (18-9-6, 15-5-5-2 WCHA) downed Alaska Anchorage (2-25-4, 2-20-3-3 WCHA) on the road Thursday evening after netting a four-goal third period for a 5-2 victory over the Seawolves.

Box Score
Johnson Goal Call 1-0
Spezia Goal Call 2-1
Craggs Goal Call 3-2
Baylis Goal Call 4-2
Craggs Goal Call 5-2

Scoring Plays

Period 2 | 00:54 – As the Falcons saw its first power play action of the night, freshman Brandon Kruse wrapped the puck around the back of the net before feeding it in front to fellow freshman Max Johnson. A native of Lakeville, Minn., Johnson then notched his 10th goal of the season with a one-timer. Johnson's seventh power play goal of the year came with assists by Kruse and sophomore Alec Rauhauser.
Period 3 | 01:49 – Another early period goal came to kick off the third as Kruse chipped the puck free at the blue line to McLain at center ice. Passing it off to senior Tyler Spezia, the Clinton Township, Mich. native soared the puck to the top shelf to put the Falcons up 2-1 against the Seawolves.
Period 3 | 11:07 – Breaking the 2-2 stalemate was sophomore Lukas Craggs, as he netted a top shelf snipe and tossing the bottle for his ninth of the season. Craggs' first goal on the night put the Falcons up 3-2 with an assist by senior Brett D'Andrea in the corner.
Period 3 | 14:38 – After persistence in the Seawolf zone, junior Stephen Baylis was able to bat it home from the doorstep after picking up the rebound. Also his ninth goal of the season, Baylis was assisted by Johnson, and sophomore Frederic Letourneau in front of the net.
Period 3 | 19:03 – After Anchorage pulled its goalie with 1:13 remaining in regulation, Lukas Craggs was able to take the puck down the ice and net the fourth goal of the third period on an empty net. Assisting in the goal that put the Falcons up 5-2 was freshman Connor Ford and Rauhauser.

Statistical Standouts

Four players featured multi-point performances, including Lukas Craggs (2G), Max Johnson (1G, 1A), Alec Rauhauser (2A) and Brandon Kruse (2A).
Of his 10 goals this season, freshman Max Johnson has scored a team-leading seven on the man advantage.
The Falcons remain undefeated on the season when scoring four or more goals, with a record of 11-0-0. Also notable, Bowling Green holds a record of 13-1-5 when scoring first, and 10-1-2 when holding its opponent scoreless on the power play.
In search of 100 career points, senior Mitch McLain claimed his 94th in his career by an assist on Spezia's opening goal. A native of Baxter, Minn., the Captain has hit a hot streak through the second half, and has now tallied 14 points in the last 12 games.
10 different players appeared on the box score with at least one point.
Between the pipes, sophomore goaltender Ryan Bednard tallied 26 saves and just two goals against, improving to 11-5-4 on the season. The native of Macomb, Mich. stopped a high of 13 shots on goal in the narrow second period of play, while on the season Bednard has also allowed two goals or less in 13 of his 20 appearances this season.
It marked the third time this season that the Falcons have notched four goals in a single period, two of which occurred in the third.
Overall, the Falcons outshot the Seawolves 30-28, including a game-high of 13 shots on goal in the third period. The team was led by Spezia, who notched six shots on goal on the night.
In special team's action, the Falcons went 1-for-2 with the man advantage thanks to Johnson's opening goal, in addition of going 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. It was the 13th time this season the Falcons have held its opponent scoreless on the power play.

Coach Bergeron's Take

"I want to see another quick start tomorrow, but want it more of the time. We started good, but I think we got worse as the period went on. That carried over to the second, but we were able to stop that bad momentum and get going the other way in the third."
"I liked the effort in the third period a lot more than I liked the effort in the second. I don't think the second period was very good, and we weren't good in our own zone or breaking the puck out of the zone. But in the third period we had more energy and we definitely played harder than we did in the second period and anytime you can score four goals in one period, especially on the road, it's a good thing and we'll take that."
"In special teams we were able to hold them scoreless and we were 1-for-2 on the power play. All-in-all, to win the special team's battle it's big and I'm happy with that."

Up Next

The Bowling Green hockey program will look to seal the sweep tomorrow, Feb. 16 in the series finale against Alaska Anchorage. Puck drop is slated for a 7:07 p.m. local / 11:07 p.m. Eastern start.

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.