Bowling Green State University
MICHIGAN
Michigan Returns The Favor With Victory At Bowling Green
January 17, 2009 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 17, 2009
Final Stats |
Photo Gallery 
BOWLING GREEN, OHIO - For the second night in a row, the Bowling Green State University hockey team played well enough to win against sixth-ranked Michigan only this time the contest went the Wolverines way as they parlayed a second period goal into a 1-0 victory Saturday night at the BGSU Ice Arena.
The Falcons upset the Wolverines Friday night, 3-0, in the series opener with strong play by senior goalie Jimmy Spratt and timely penalty killing. It was more of the same Saturday night, except the Falcons failed to score for the third time this season.
Spratt was a least as sharp as he was Friday night on Saturday, maybe sharper , after posting his second career shutout making 29 saves in the first game of the series. Saturday night Spratt made 39 saves, 31 in the first two periods, his season high. It was the third-highest save total of his career behind a 42-save performance at Ferris State and the 40 save he had at St. Lawrence, both coming in his sophomore season (2006-07). It was only the fifth time this season he has had to make 30 or more saves in a game.
For the weekend, Spratt saved 67 of the 68 shots he faced.
The lone goal of the game, an even strength tally (5-on-5), came about midway through the contest when defenseman Chad Langlais' point shot made its way through a maze of players in front of Spratt and beat him low to the glove side. It was the second goal of the season for Langlais. Senior forward Danny Fardig drew the only assist on the play. The goal came at the 10:15 mark of the second period.
Neither team managed to score with the man-advantage as Michigan had eight opportunities and Bowling Green four tries up a man.
The Falcons had good sustained pressure over the final 1:28 of the game with Spratt pulled for an extra skater, but could not get the equalizer. Sophomore Dan Sexton had a chance on his backhand but couldn't lift the puck to beat UM's senior goaltender Billy Sauer, who was credited with 19 saves in getting his third win of the season. Sexton also found junior teammate Kai Kantola in front of the net in the final seconds, but Kantola could not get his stick on the pass.
With the loss, BG falls to 8-13-3 overall and 5-10-1-0 in Central Collegiate Hockey Association play. Michigan gains the split of the only series the two programs will play this season to improve to 16-8-0 and 10-6-0-0 in league play.
Bowling Green is now 2-8-2 in Saturday games this season.
BG's win Friday night was its first shutout in the series with Michigan in 107 series contests while Michigan returned the favor Saturday night winning for only the third time in the series by shutout. The Falcons had won two of the last three in the series at home.
The Falcons will return to action next weekend hosting Lake Superior for a pair of 7:05 games at the BGSU Ice Arena. The two teams squared-off earlier this season (Nov. 7-8) with the Lakers earning a shutout win and a shootout win after the two teams tied, 4-all, in regulation and overtime.
BGSU head coach Scott Paluch "I thought it was an engaging game with a lot of twists and turns. Obviously, Jimmy (Spratt) played terrific and gave us a chance right down to the end."
"Michigan had an advantage for the first two periods. Their quickness out of the gate was a factor in the first two periods. But, it was still a one-goal game with 20 minutes left going into the third period. We gave ourselves a chance and got a couple pretty good looks at it there down the stretch. I thought over the six periods of the weekend, it was a very good effort by our team."
"We didn't have our quickness involved as much as we would like in the first two periods, but we mentally hung in there, a lot of that Jimmy making some key saves."
(on the play of goaltender Jimmy Spratt)"You play six periods against that team and only give up one goal with some of the looks they had - I thought he was very good all weekend. He was really on it for all six periods."
