Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Head To Ferris State
February 11, 2001 | Ice Hockey
Feb. 11, 2001
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Bowling Green (10-16-4, 5-13-4 CCHA) at Ferris State (12-14-4, 8-11-3 CCHA)
7:05 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 16-17
Series Record: BGSU leads 45-29-8
Last Meetings: at BG, Ferris 3-1/5-4 (OT) on Nov. 19-20, 1999
Friday Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7)
Saturday Radio: WBGU-FM (88.1)
SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green leads the all-time series versus Ferris State with a 45-29-8 record. The Falcons have a 17-15-4 record at Ferris, with a 6-4 win the last time they traveled to Ewigleben Ice Arena (Feb. 27, 1999). Buddy Powers has a record of 8-6-3 against the Bulldogs, including a 3-3-1 mark at Big Rapids.
SERIES NOTES
Bowling Green is seventh in league scoring (2.77), while Ferris State is ninth (2.45). BG is eighth in defense (3.23), with the Bulldogs one spot ahead at seventh (3.14). The Falcons are second in power-play percentage (.210), while Ferris ranks eighth (.167). BG is fourth in penalty killing (.845) and FSU is tenth (.809).
PREVIEWING FERRIS STATE
Ferris State split their weekend series at Lake Superior State, defeating the Lakers 5-2 on Friday night and falling 4-2 on Saturday. The Bulldogs currently occupy the eighth position in the CCHA playoff race with 19 points.
Ferris State is led in scoring by senior forward Kevin Swider (14-16--30, 8 ppg), sophomore forward Chris Kunitz (15-12--27, 7 ppg, 4 gwg), junior forward Rob Collins (13-14--27, 4 ppg, 2 shg, 2 gwg), and senior blueliner Jim Dube (3-12--15).
Ninth-year head coach Bob Daniels has used junior Phil Osaer (7-6-2, 2.28, .909) and senior Vince Owen (4-7-2, 3.83, .857) in net this season. Ferris State's power play has scored on 30 of 169 opportunities (17.8%), while the penalty killing unit has stopped 106 of its opponents 131 chances (80.9%).
REVIEWING THE NOTRE DAME SERIES
Bowling Green was swept at Notre Dame last weekend, falling 3-2 Friday night and 5-3 on Saturday. BG is currently tied with Notre Dame and Lake Superior State for the 10th and final playoff spot in the CCHA with 14 points. The Falcons have one and two games in hand over Notre Dame and Lake Superior respectively.
Notre Dame opened the scoring late in the first period Friday night. With Tyler Knight in the penalty box for charging and Ryan Wetterberg just stepping back onto the ice after serving his own infraction, ND's Connor Dunlop put the puck past BG goalie Tyler Masters. Rob Globke and Dan Carlson helped set up Dunlop's power-play goal, his fifth score on the year, at 19:16.
Bowling Green would answer early in the second with a power-play marker of their own. While T.J. Mathieson served an obstruction hooking call, the Falcon power-play unit crashed the net and defenseman Marc Barlow successfully roofed a shot past Notre Dame netminder Tony Zasowski. Scott Hewson garnered an assist on the play for his first point on the night.
Approximately 12 minutes later, Globke reclaimed the one goal lead for the Fighting Irish with his 13th of the season.
The Falcon power play lit the lamp again to even things up at 5:35 of the third. Grady Moore passed the puck ahead to a breaking Ryan Murphy. Zasowski was able to stop Murphy's wrist shot, but Hewson was hovering around the crease to corral the rebound and bang it past the ND goaltender for his sixth marker of the season and second point of the contest.
Notre Dame's Globke scored his second of the night to put the Irish ahead for good. Globke's team-leading 14th of the campaign was set up by Neil Komadoski.
Tyler Masters recorded 31 saves for Bowling Green, while Tony Zasowski stopped 35 shots for Notre Dame. The Falcon power play scored two goals in five opportunities, as Notre Dame was able to capitalize once on four chances.
After Notre Dame jumped out to an early 2-0 lead Saturday night, BG was able to post a late goal to end the first period. Greg Day pushed a cross-ice feed to Curtis Valentine, who was able to make a perfect shot and pick the corner over ND netminder Tony Zasowski. D'Arcy McConvey also assisted on Valentine's eighth of the year.
Austin de Luis tied the game early into the second with his fourth lamplighter this season. McConvey corralled a loose puck after Notre Dame's defense was unable to clear and slid the puck to de Luis, who wristed it through Zasowski's legs at 1:36.
Midway through the middle stanza Ryan Dolder reclaimed the lead for Notre Dame. Aaron Gill and Evan Nielsen helped set up Dolder's 14th of the year.
The Falcons fought back to tie the game again six minutes later. While Dan Globke served a tripping penalty for the Fighting Irish, BG's power play struck for its second tally of the night. Valentine recorded his second goal of the contest on the man-advantage when he knocked a centering feed from Roger Leonard past Zasowski. McConvey's helper on Valentine's ninth of the season was his third point on the night.
Bowling Green and Notre Dame waged a defensive battle during the third that remained scoreless until the final minute of regulation. ND's Evan Nielsen broke the 3-3 tie with a breakaway goal, his first of the season. Neil Komadoski added an empty netter with one second remaining to sew up the win for Notre Dame.
Tyler Masters stopped 33 Fighting Irish shots, including 20 in the third period, while Tony Zasowski made 23 saves. BG's penalty kill went 4-4 on the night, while their power-play unit was successful in two of five chances.
THE LAST TIME
Ferris State beat the Falcons 3-1 and 5-4 (OT) in a two game series November 19-20, 1999, at BGSU Ice Arena.
Brian McCullough led the charge for the Bulldogs Friday night with one goal and two assists. Vince Owen made 24 saves in net for Ferris, to Tyler Masters' 25 for the Falcons.
Greg Day's two goals and Ryan Fultz's three assists helped BG's offense to a four-goal night Saturday. Ferris State benefitted from balanced scoring throughout the game. Freshman Chris Kunitz broke a 4-4 deadlock 2:31 into OT when he put the puck past BG netminder Tom Lawson. Lawson made 28 saves for BG, while Phil Osaer halted 18 Falcon shots.
FALCON TIDBITS
Bowling Green has not split a series since the December 8-9 meetings with Nebraska-Omaha.
The Falcon power play has scored at least one goal in 14 of the last 15 contests. BG has successfully converted 24 of their last 97 chances (24.7%) on the man-advantage.
BG allowed ND one power-play goal in eight opportunities during last weekend's series. Over the past 11 games, the Falcons have given up a paltry five goals in the last 67 opponent chances on the man-advantage for a penalty kill percentage of 92.5%.
Ryan Murphy has scored a point in 14 of his last 16 games. Murphy has 15-6--21 in that span. Murphy is currently tied for 17th in league scoring with 20 points (13-7--20), tied for fourth in power play goals with six, and tied for seventh in goals with 13.
Greg Day has a point in eight of the last nine matches, and 13 of the last 15. Day had three goals and nine assists (12 points) during an eight game point streak that ended Saturday night, and eight goals, 15 assists (23 points) in his last 15 games. Day is currently tied for 11th in the league in scoring, with 25 points (13-12--25) and tied for seventh in goals with 13.
Scott Hewson is tied for fourth in the CCHA in power play goals with six.
D'Arcy McConvey's three assists Friday night were a career best. The freshman center leads BG rookie scorers with four goals and 13 assists for 17 points. He's scored a point in three of his last four matches (0-5--5).
Only five players have seen action in all 30 contests this year with BG's losing 49 man-games to injuries.
