Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Look To Get Back On Track Versus Northern Michigan This Weekend
November 15, 2005 | Ice Hockey
Nov. 15, 2005
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
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The Bowling Green State University hockey team will look to rebound from its disappointing weekend in South Bend last week with a pair of home contests versus Northern Michigan this weekend (Nov. 18-19). Both matches are set for 7:05 p.m.
Broadcast Note
Due to conflicts with BGSU women's basketball, the hockey team can be heard on 107.7 FM on Nov. 18, as well as Nov. 26. The women's basketball games will be carried on 88.1 FM.
The Series With Northern Michigan
The Falcons own an all-time series advantage of 30-24-6 (.550) over Northern Michigan. Last season the Wildcats won both contests over the Falcons, capturing 3-1 and 4-2 victories. Senior Mike Falk is the top returning scorer (1g, 4a) in eight career games versus Northern Michigan. Head coach Scott Paluch is 3-4-1 versus the Wildcats in his career.
BGSU/Ferris State Game Details
The Bowling Green versus Ferris State game, back on Oct. 27, has been rescheduled for January 16, 2006. The game, which had completed one period (0-0), will play a full 60-minute game inside the BGSU Ice Arena. The game will be played at 7:05.
Falcons Slow Start Has Happened Before
BGSU's 2-6-1 record is not the first time they have started the season off with a slow start. In 2003-04 the Falcons started off 1-4-1, with three losses coming against conference opponents. In 2002-03 they went 2-8-0 and in 2001-02 they began the campaign 2-5-1. Last season was the exception, starting out 6-2-1 in 2004-05.
Falcon Penalty Kill Slams The Door...For The Most Part
For the most part, the BGSU penalty kill has had a stellar season, but when they give up a power-play goal they seem to come in bunches. Just last weekend BGSU surrendered four power-play goals to Notre Dame last Thursday. They also gave up two PP goals to Boston College and Ohio State on Oct. 20. If you remove those three games the BGSU penalty kills is an amazing 39-42 (92.9%).
Shoot The Puck
BGSU has out shot their opponent in seven-of-nine contests this season, including a 34-33 advantage over #4 Boston College, a 47-23 display over Merrimack, as well as their last five CCHA opponents, Ferris State (28-24), UNO (32-28 and 35-30) and Notre Dame (33-28 and 38-22).
Home Cooking
Bowling Green is currently on a home stand that will see them play six of their next eight games at home. BGSU will host Northern Michigan (Nov. 18-19), as well as one game a piece with Miami (Nov. 26) and Michigan State (Dec. 3). They finish the home stand with a pair of non-conference games versus Clarkson (Dec. 9) and St. Lawrence (Dec. 10) before a 19 day lay-off for Christmas break.
Spread The Wealth
Already this season BGSU has had 19 different players record points. while 14 different members have scored goals.
First Period Blues
The first 20-minutes of several contests this season have placed the Falcons behind the eight ball. They have trailed following the first period in every loss this season except the 3-2 defeat to Merrimack. On the season they have scored 11 goals, but have surrendered 17 goals in the opening session. In the Falcons two wins this season they led 3-1 over UNO and were tied 2-2 against the Mavericks (a game they won 4-3) in the opening 20-minutes. They also had a 2-1 advantage in the first over #2 Ohio State, a game they tied 2-2.
Take Me To Your Leader
Mike Falk entered the 2005-06 season with a career 24 goals in 89 career games. This season alone he has already amassed eight goals, which ranks first in the CCHA. The senior recorded eight goals in 27 games last season and had his career-best 11 goals in 35 games his freshman year. Falk ranks 6th in the country with .89 goals/game.
Tough Luck For Horrell
Senior Jon Horrell (0-4-1) has a 3.28 goals against average and a .879 save percentage, but has yet to record a win this season. In his four starts this season BGSU has scored goals of two (vs. Merrimack), two (vs. Ohio State), one (vs. Ferris State) and two (vs. Notre Dame) for a season average of 1.75 goals/game with Horrell in net. Conversely the Falcons have scored 19 goals in four games (4.75) with freshman Jimmy Spratt (2-2-0) between the pipes.
Matsumoto, Foster and Falk Carry The Load
The combination of Alex Foster (2-13-15), Jonathan Matsumoto (6-10-16) and Mike Falk (8-1-9) have combined for 53% (16-30) of the Falcons goals this season. They also own 46% of the team's assists (24-52) and 49% of the team's total points (40-82). The trio also accounts for 71% (10-14) of the team's power-play goals this season. All three rank in the top-10 for CCHA scoring. BGSU and Michigan own six of the top-10 point scorers in the league.
No Sophomore Slump For Matsumoto
Jonathan Matsumoto recorded his first career hat trick back on Oct. 15 versus Boston College, and has 16 points (6g, 10a) in the first nine games of the season. On his hat trick he recorded three power-play goals. In his brief Falcon career Matsumoto has recorded 24 goals (16 power play), 24 assists and 48 points in 45 career games. He just recently had an eight game point streak snapped, recording seven goals and five assists in that span. Matsumoto ranks 5th nationally with 1.78 points per game. He also ranks 2nd in the country with six power-play goals and 11th in assists per game with 1.11 per game. He is second on the team goals scored (6) and first with 16 points.
So Close...
Of the Falcons six losses this season BGSU was either leading or tied for the lead in four of the six games this season. They had a 2-1 advantage late in the third period versus Merrimack. They were tied 6-6 early in the third versus #4 Boston College, and had a 2-1 lead five minutes into the third at Ohio State. Just last weekend they had a 1-0 advantage over Notre Dame near the end of the first, a game they eventually lost 9-4.
Foster "Helps" The Falcon Cause
Sophomore Alex Foster may only have two goals on the season, but his 13 assists in nine games ranks third in the country with 1.44 helpers per game. Two weekends ago the forward picked up four assists on four straight Falcon goals versus Nebraska-Omaha, before picking up two more assists the following night. His 15 total points (2-13-15) rank him 10th in the country with 1.67 points per game. He is second on the team in points (15), and first in assists (13).
Falcon Power Play
BGSU has scored 14 power-play goals this season. The team is led by Matsumoto (6) and Mike Falk (3). James Unger, Kevin Schmidt, Don Morrison, Derek Whitmore and Alex Foster have also score PP goals this season.The Falcons rank 26th nationally and 10th in the CCHA on the power play (18.7%).
Falcon Penalty Kill
While facing some of the toughest competition in the country early this season the Falcon penalty kill has played solid defense. On the year they have killed 56-of-67 opposing power-play opportunities, holding #4 Boston College 2-for-9 and #2/3 Ohio State 3-for-14 (2 games) with the man advantage. They also held Merrimack 0-for-6 to open the season, and FSU 0-for-4 in their home opener. They held UNO 1-for-16 two weekends ago (2 games). They ranked 24th in the country and seventh in the CCHA on the PK (87.8%).
