Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Host Nationally-Ranked Minnesota State This Weekend
November 25, 2008 | Ice Hockey
Nov. 25, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, OHIO -
Game #15-16
Bowling Green (5-7-2, 4-5-1-0 CCHA) vs. #10/#9 Minnesota State (7-3-2, 5-3-2 WCHA)
Nov. 28-29, 2008 • Bowlling Green, Ohio (BGSU Ice Arena - 5,000) • 7:05
Game Notes - BG vs. Minn. State
THIS WEEK
The Bowling Green State University hockey team will step outside Central Collegiate Hockey Association play this weekend hosting Minnesota State, from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, for two games at the BGSU Ice Arena. Both games of the Friday-Saturday series will begin at 7:05 p.m.
RADIO
All games this season can be heard on WBGU 88.1 FM. Bob Mills will provide the play-by-play with Anthony Bellino (Friday) and Alex Mikos (Saturday) doing the color commentary. The pregame show will air 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off. The broadcast can be heard globally on both www.bgsufalcons.com and www.bgrso.org.
TELEVISION
Both games this weekend will air locally on the Buckeye Cable System Network (BCSN) with Greg Franke calling the play-by-play and former BGSU hockey coach Buddy Powers providing the color commentary. The Friday contest will be tape delayed with the game airing for the first time at 2 a.m. Saturday morning. The Saturday game will air live on BCSN.
LIVE STATS
Live stats for all Falcon games are available on the BGSU web site (www.bgsufalcons.com). Stats can be accessed from the schedule page in the hockey section of the web site by clicking on the "gametracker" icon on the right hand side of the page.
FALCON'S NEST RADIO SHOW
BGSU head coach Scott Paluch will be a guest on BGSU's weekly radio show held at the Frickers's restaurant across from Perry Stadium each Monday. Paluch will be on the show Dec. 8 and 29. He will also have a segment of the show on Jan. 12 and 26, and Feb. 9 and 23. The radio show, which begins at 6 p.m., is hosted by Todd Walker and can be heard on WCWA 1230 AM.
CARRYING THE LOAD
The Falcons' top line of senior Brandon Svendsen and sophomores David Solway and Dan Sexton continues to carry a large portion of the load offensively. In the series with Notre Dame last week, the line accounted for two points (one goal, one assist) as the Falcons were limited to two goals in the series. In CCHA play thus far (10 games), this line has accounted for 13 of the 17 BG goals (76%), collected 18 of the 25 assists (72%) and 31 of the 42 points (74%). They are a combined plus-12 while the rest of the team is minus-56 with only one other player, senior defenseman Tim Maxwell (+3), on the positive side of the on-ice rating ledger. The line combined to score seven points (3-4) the first weekend, five points (2-3) the second weekend, two points (1-1) the third weekend, 12 points (5-7) the fourth weekend, six points (3-3) the fifth weekend, nine points (3-6) sixth weekend and nine points the seventh weekend. Overall this season, the trio has scored 18 of the 30 Falcon goals, they have collected 25 of the 44 assists, and 43 of the 74 points. The top BG line has accounted for at least one point on 23 of the 30 goals this season. Two of the players have been involved in 14 goals and they have combined as a line to score five times, all five of those occurrences in BG home games. At least two of the players from the line have had a hand in 12 of the last 17 BG goals covering the last 10 games.
MORE SVENDSEN
Senior Brandon Svendsen, the left-winger on the line, had the lone BG goal in the Friday loss to Notre Dame for his only point of the weekend. Svendsen's goal was a short-handed tally and pulled the Falcons to within 2-1 early in the second period. It was his second short-handed goal of the season, second-best total in the country, and fourth of his career. The alternate captain for the Falcons this season has scored a point in eight games this season, including a point in six of the last eight games totalling 11 points (3-8). Svendsen and Sexton lead the team with five multi-point games with Svendsen having four of his five multi-point games in his last eight contests. He is tied for second on the team with 14 points (6-8) while he leads the team in CCHA play with 12 points (4-8). The Roseville, Minn. native has a +4 on-ice rating for the season. He is well on his way to the best season of his career with a 19-point year as a freshman his best. He has already surpassed his goal total from all of last season when he scored four goals and had 13 points. Svendsen ranks among the CCHA leaders in five categories for all games and six categories for league games only. He is tied for seventh in the CCHA for all games scoring and is tied for sixth in scoring for league games.
MORE SOLWAY
Sophomore David Solway assisted on Brandon Svendsen's goal in the Friday loss to Notre Dame for his only point of the weekend. Solway earned CCHA Offfensive Player of the Week for his performance Nov. 14-15 against Northern Michigan. Solway scored both goals in their overtime victory over NMU the first night then assisted on the game winner the next night. It was the first time he has earned conference honors. Solway has a point in nine games this season, including six of the last eight contests, in which he has accounted for 10 points (5-5). He has four multi-point games to his credit this season. He is also well on his way to new career highs as he had 15 points (9-6) in the 2007-08 season. The Green Bay, Wis. native has an on-ice rating of +5 for the season. He is tied for second on the squad with 14 points (tied with Svendsen) and his 10 points in league play is also second on the team. He ranks among the CCHA leaders in four overall and league only categories. He is tied for seventh in the CCHA for all games scoring and is tied for 10th in CCHA play. His seven goals this season, which leads the team, is tied for third in the CCHA.
MORE SEXTON
Sophomore Dan Sexton did not score a point last weekend against Notre Dame, the first weekend of the season in which he was shutout. Sexton, who leads the team with 15 points (5-10), has a point in a team-best nine games this season with five of those multi-point efforts. The Apple Valley, Minn. native, who had seven goals and 14 assists as a freshman, has an on-ice rating of plus-5. He ranks among the CCHA leaders in six categories and five different categories for league games. He is tied for fifth in the CCHA, for all games, in scoring and is tied for 15th in league games. His two game-winning goals is tied for the fifth-best total among all players in the country. His 10 assists this season puts him in a tie for fourth among all CCHA players. Sexton leads the Falcons with 15 (5-10) points on the season and he is third on the team in CCHA play with nine points (4-5).
HOME COOKING
After making two trips in the first three weeks of the season and three in the first five weeks, the Falcons will now look to use the friendly confines of the BGSU Ice Arena to get on a roll. Beginning with the series against Nebraska-Omaha, BGSU will play 12 of its next 16 games at home, and looking even further down the schedule, 15 of 20. After concluding a home series with Lake Superior on Jan. 24, the Falcons will have played 17 of their first 26 games at home. But, of course, then the schedule flip-flops and BG will play seven of their last 10 on the road to conclude the regular season. Beginning this weekend, the Falcons will play 10 of their next 12 games at home and they will not make another overnight trip this season until the Jan. 30-31 series at Miami, which begins that period in which they play seven of their last 10 on the road to complete the regular season.
SPRATT AMONG CAREER LEADERS
Senior goaltender Jimmy Spratt has started all 14 games this season. Spratt recorded his first career shutout in the 1-0 win over Alaska earlier this season turning away all 30 shots he faced. The Chesterfield, Mich. native enjoyed possibly the best weekend of his career earning the win in both games of the Northern Michigan series two weeks ago. For the two games, he had a 0.99 goals-against and a .961 save percentage (two goals/49 saves). It was the first time since his freshman season (Nov. 4-5, 2005 vs. Nebraska-Omaha - his second and third career starts) that he won both games of a series. One of the goals he allowed was a power-play tally. He has allowed three or fewer goals in eight of the 14 games and has a 3.19 goals-against, a little less than one-half a goal better than his career GAA (3.66) coming into this season. He has just three games of 30 or more saves this season and has an .876 save percentage. In the 10 league games, Spratt has a 3.08 goals-against and an .884 save percentage. He has now played in 80 career games, with 77 of those starts. Spratt, who has 1,946 career saves, which is good for 10th-place on the BG list, needs 13 saves to surpass Bob Petrie (93-97) for the #9 spot. Spratt is eighth on the BGSU career list for saves in CCHA games with 1,473. He is 10 saves shy of Petrie, who is seventh on the school's list.
ENO OUT INDEFINITELY
The other half of last year's goaltending duo, sophomore Nick Eno, has not played this season because of a left ankle sprain and will now be held out of all activities for the next few weeks in hopes of getting his ankle healed. Eno, who sported a 12-10-0 record, a 2.79 goals-against average and .905 save percentage last year, became the third Falcon netminder to earn CCHA All-Rookie Team honors. He joined Bob Petrie (1994) and Aaron Elllis (1993) as the other first-year Falcon goalies to earn those accolades. The Howell, Mich. native's goals-against average last season ranks seventh on the single-season BG list, while his save percentage is tied for seventh-best.
POWER PLAY NEEDS TO PICK UP THE PACE
The Falcons had a power-play goal in each of the first four games of the season, but have converted at least once in just three of their last 10 games. The Falcons scored a power-play goal in the Saturday night loss to Notre Dame that ended an 0-for-21 streak with the man-advantage. The Falcons are just four-for-58 (6.9%) with the man-advantage in the last 10 games (all CCHA contests). The Falcons are getting their shots with the manpower advantage, 89 in the last 10 games and 135 for the season.
LATE HEROICS
The Falcons have scored within the last five minutes of regulation time in seven different games this season. In three of those instances the goal broke a tie to win the game. In one instance it tied the game in a contest that ended deadlocked. And in another instance it tied the game and BG went on to win in overtime. BG has scored a total of seven goals (seven different contests) in the last five minutes of regulation time this season.
FALCON QUICK HITS
BG returns 21 letterwinners from a year ago and seven of their top 10 scorers...the Falcons play 14 games this season against teams who played in the NCAA Tournament last season...the Falcons have a 4-2-1 record at home this season and in compiling that mark, they have outshot their opponents, 280 (40.0 avg.) to 171 (24.4 avg.)...despite the wide difference in shots, BG has been outscored, 23-18, at home...BG has three one-goal victories, winning twice on red-lighters in the last four minutes of the game, and once in overtime...Bowling Green is 6-3-1 at home in their last 10 games dating back to the end of last season...BG leads the CCHA for all games (35.0 avg.) and league games (34.9 avg.) in shots...the Falcons had their second contest of the season with 50 shots in the win over Northern Michigan two weeks ago...BG has nine games this season with 30 or more shots, the opposition six...freshman defenseman Nick Bailen scored his first collegiate goal in the loss to Notre Dame accounting for BG's only score...the nine goals the Falcons surrendered to Notre Dame Saturday was the most since Ohio State scored nine on Nov. 17, 2006 in a 9-3 victory at the BGSU Ice Arena...the 14 goals allowed in two games with Notre Dame were the most since they gave up 16 goals in back-to-back games against Boston College and Ohio State early in the 2005-06 season...it was the most goals yielded in a series since Ferris State scored 15 times in a series early in the 2002-03 season...BG has given up a goal in only 22 of the 42 periods this season, but in 14 of those 22 periods in which the opposition has scored, they have yielded two or more tallies...by comparison, BG has also scored in 22 periods, but they have more than one goal in only four of those 22 periods...BG had a string of 11 successive periods in which they scored at least one goal earlier this season...BG has scored two or fewer goals in seven of their last 10 games, but they have won three of those seven contest in which they scored two or fewer goals...BG is averaging 1.7 goals per game over the last 10 contests...BG is 9-5-3 at home against non-CCHA teams under head coach Scott Paluch, 6-0-2 in their last eight games...their last loss to a non-CCHA school at home was a 6-4 setback to Clarkson in the 2005-06 season.
MINNESOTA STATE NOTES
The Mavericks are ranked 10th or ninth in the country, depending on the poll, and come into the series with the Falcons having posted a 4-1-1 record in their last six games...Minnesota State is coming off a sweep of Michigan Tech on the road where they won 3-2 on Friday and 4-2 on Saturday...Minnesota State is currently tied for third in the WCHA with a 5-3-2 record...they have allowed two or fewer goals in seven games while they have scored three or more goals in 10 contests...the Mavericks leading scorer is a defenseman, sophomore Kurt Davis...Davis has 17 points (3-14) to rank second in the nation among defensemen and tied for 13th among all players...he is tied for fourth in the nation in assists while leading the WCHA in that category...senior forward Mick Berge is one of three other players on the team with 10 or more points...Berge has 12 points (2-10) while freshman forward Mike Louwerse has 11 points and is tied for the team lead in goals with seven...junior forward Trevor Bruess also has seven goals this season and 10 points...junior Zach Harrison has four goals and five points this season, but leads the nation with three short-handed tallies...Minnesota State is seventh in the nation averaging 3.50 goals per game...senior Mike Zacharias has played all 12 games in goal for the Mavericks and has a 2.54 goals-against and a .918 save percentage...head coach Troy Jutting is in his ninth season and has a 134-148-40 record.
LAST WEEK
The Falcons dropped both games of a weekend series against Notre Dame as special teams took center stage. Notre Dame posted a 5-1 victory at home to start the series. Two first period goals by Notre Dame put them ahead, but the Falcons cut the deficit in half when Brandon Svendsen scored short-handed on a breakaway at the 5:03 mark of the second period. The turning point came just 1:06 later when the Fighting Irish scored their second power-play marker of the game and then added even-strength goals at 17:49 and 19:59 of the second stanza to put the game away. Senior goaltender Jimmy Spratt had 27 saves, the same as his counterpart, Jordan Pearce of Notre Dame. BG was did not convert on any of their seven power-play opportunities while Notre Dame was two-for-six. In Saturday's 9-1 loss at the BGSU Ice Arena, the Falcons matched an early BG goal when freshman Nick Bailen notched his first collegiate goal on the power play. But, Notre Dame scored the next eight goals, six in the third period. For the evening, Notre Dame scored six power-play goals, on 12 tries, and had a short-handed tally. Spratt was credited with 23 saves while Pearce had 22 stops. The Falcons were one-of-seven with the manpower edge.
NEXT WEEK
The Falcons have an off week before resuming CCHA play with a home-and-home series against Notre Dame. The Dec. 12-13 series begins with a contest at the BGSU Ice Arena and concludes with a game in South Bend. Both games start at 7:05 p.m. The same two teams just completed a series on Nov 21-22 in which the Fighting Irish took both games from the Falcons.
