Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MICHIGAN STATE
Falcons Clinch Home Ice for Playoffs - Defeat Michigan State, 2-1
February 26, 2005 | Ice Hockey
Feb. 26, 2005
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green clinched home ice for the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs for the first time in 10 years with a 2-1 victory over visiting Michigan State on Friday night, 2-1. The win gives the Falcons 29 league points, and coupled with a loss 6-4 by Nebraska-Omaha, moves BGSU into fourth-place in the CCHA standings with three games remaining.
Sophomore James Unger deflected a shot by Brett Pilkington at 18:28 of the second period for the go-ahead goal and the Falcons held on for the 2-1 victory. Senior Jordan Sigalet held the Spartans to one goal on 34 shots faced to earn Perani Cup first-star honors.
"That game had a real playoff-type of feel to it right from the start," said BGSU Coach Scott Paluch. "Both teams were working extremely hard. Effort was there with concern on not making a mistake."
Paluch talked about the home-ice advantage that BGSU will now have in two weeks when the postseason begins (March 11-13).
"It was a significant goal for us," said Paluch. "We talked at the start of the year about being home for the playoffs. It's been a long time, it's been too long since we've had home ice. And now with three games left, we want to keep playing well and finish as high as we can. Home ice is something we shot for. Guys were excited about the win, but are looking forward to tomorrow night."
BGSU jumped out in front when freshmen John Mazzei scored just 24 seconds into the contest. Steve Brudzewski picked up the assist. However, MSU's Jim McKenzie knotted the game at 1-1 at 13:56 of the first period with assists from Colton Fretter and Jim Slater.
MSU held a 28-20 shot advantage over the first two periods with each team getting six shots on net in the third period. Paluch praised Sigalet, who held his 16th opponent this season to two goals or less and his 11th to one goal or less.
"He, again, really looked in control of every situation. He never had to really make any acrobatic play. He had himself in good position all night."
Both teams were scorless on the power play (0-for-3).
BGSU improves to 16-11-4 overall and 13-9-3 in the CCHA. MSU drops to 14-15-4 overall and 9-13-3 in the CCHA. The two teams meet for the final time this season at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Mich., on Saturday night in the "CCHA Game of the Week" at 7:35 p.m. The game will be televised live by FoxSports Detroit and tape-delay on FoxSports Ohio at 11 p.m.
BGSU Post-Game Notes...
• CCHA First-Round Playoff tickets will be available on Monday, Feb. 28, at the BGSU Ticket office, located in Anderson Arena. Ticket prices will be $12 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission, $7 for high school students and youths, and $3 for BGSU and opponent students. Call 1-877-BGSU-Ticket to purchase tickets.
• SR Jordan Sigalet presented a check for $10,652.67 to the National MS Society Northwestern Ohio Chapter prior to the game. The money was raised last week during "MS Awareness Weekend at the Ice Arena."
•FR defenseman Mike Nesdill earned an assist in his fourth-straight game on John Mazzei's goal.
• The last time the Falcons were home for the playoffs was March 10-11, 1995, when they swept Notre Dame (7-2 and 5-4).
• The Falcons improved to 14-3-0 when scoring first, while they are 2-8-4 when the opponent scores first.
• The 16 wins are the most for BGSU since the 2000-01 season (16-19-5) and the 13 league victories are the most since the 1998-99 season (13-14-3).
• BGSU clinched an overall regular-season and CCHA regular-season winning record for the first time since the 1995-96 season (26-14-1 overall, 18-11-1 CCHA).
