Bowling Green State University Athletics
Friday, February 18
Bowling Green, Ohio
7:05 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
vs
Northern Michigan
Falcons Close Out Home Slate Versus Wildcats
February 17, 2011 | Ice Hockey
As the race for playoff seeding heightens the Falcons host one of the teams in the thick of it, the NMU Wildcats.
 |
Bowling Green Falcons vs. Northern Michigan Wildcats Feb. 18, 2011 - 7:05 p.m. ET Feb. 19, 2011 - 7:05 p.m. ET BGSU Ice Arena -- Bowling Green, Ohio |
 |
| (8-21-3, 3-18-3-1) 11th, CCHA |
(13-15-4, 11-11-2-0) t-6th, CCHA |
|
| BGSU game notes | Complete coverage at Game Central (Listen, Follow, Watch ... Falcon Hockey!) |
NMU game notes |
THIS WEEK IN FALCON HOCKEY ...
Bowling Green takes part in what could potentially be a CCHA Playoff first round match up when the Northern Michigan Wildcats (13-15-4, 11-11-2-0) come to town for weekend set with the Falcons. This weekend is the final home series of the 2010-11 season before they hit the road for the final week of the season.
LAST TIME OUT...
The Falcons were swept by the nationally-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish by scores of 2-1 and 5-1 last Friday and Saturday night (Feb. 11-12). Friday night the Falcons put up a valiant effort and took a 1-1 tie into the third period hanging on the back of sophomore goaltender Andrew Hammond. After falling behind by a goal early in the first period, the Falcon power play unit tied the game on a Mike Fink goal at the eight-minute mark of the second period. David Solway found Fink streaking through the slot where the freshman beat UND goaltender Mike Johnson with a backhand effort. The Falcons “D” played tough defense and held tough until a hard shot from inside the blue line fought through traffic and slid underneath Hammond's pad for the eventual game-winning goal scored with just under four minutes in the game. The Irish put the pedal to the metal on Saturday and beat the Falcons 5-1. Cameron Sinclair scored the loan marker in the second period but the Irish took off with four unanswered goals to end the game.
THE STARTING FIVE - Five Facts On BGSU Hockey
(1) The all-time series between the NMU Wildcats and the BGSU Falcons are 35-31-6. The Falcons defend home ice against the Wildcats well with a 21-10-2 overall record in the BGSU Ice Arena.
(2) In the last home series of the season, the Falcons are 7-10-3 since 2000. In their last ten Senior Nights, the Falcons are 2-6-2 and last year tied Michigan State and ended with a thrilling shootout victory.
(3) If the season ended today, the Falcons would be heading up the road to the north to play this weekend's opponent at their place, the Northern Michigan Wildcats. There is currently a three-way tie for 6th with NMU, Lake Superior and Alaska. In any case, there is no short trip for round one!
(4) Four seniors will be honored pre-game on Saturday evening, recognizing them for their four years with the program. They are forwards Wade Finegan and David Solway, defenseman Andrew Krelove and goaltender Nick Eno.
(5) Three BGSU Falcons have been nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, college hockey's most prestigious honor. David Solway, Jordan Samuels-Thomas and Marc Rodriguez are included in a pool of more than 60 hockey players across the nation to be voted on by the fans. Visit hobeybakeraward.com to vote for your favorite Falcon for the Hobey Baker Award.
ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER
Bowling Green's offensive struggled have been well documented this season, scoring on average 1.9 goals per game for the season. Since the beginning of December the Falcons have scored more than two goals only twice over 15 games. They have scored only one goal nine times in those 15 games (0-12-3-1 in those games) and a total of 14 times this season alone.
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY ...
With the new 11-team tournament format in place, the first five teams earn a bye for the first round leaving the remaining six teams to engage in first-round action at the sixth, seventh and eighth seeds' host sites, respectively. If the season ended today, the 11th seeded Falcons would head to Marquette, Mich. to play the Northern Michigan Wildcats for the first round of the CCHA Tournament. Bowling Green and NMU split their earlier series this year and play again this weekend in Bowling Green. There is a three-way tie for sixth place between the Lake Superior Lakers, the Alaska Nanooks and the Wildcats with four games remaining. Alaska however, plays only two conference games of those four.
BIRTHDAY BOYS
Friday we made mention that goaltender Andrew Hammond celebrated his 23rd birthday, the same night he made his third straight 30-plus save performance. On Saturday, Feb. 12, his goaltending counterpart Nick Eno celebrated his 22nd birthday. Take it a step further. Freshman Falcon goaltender Scott Zacharias is celebrating his 22nd birthday on Feb. 17.
HAMMOND ENDING 2010-11 ON FIRE
Head coach Chris Bergeron had played with the two-goalie system for 14 weekends before he decided to abandon it in favor of sophomore goaltender Andrew Hammond. After allowing three goals in a period-plus of play against Lake Superior on Jan. 28, Hammond was summoned to take the lead between the pipes and has taken a majority of the starts since. Against Western Michigan two weeks ago, Bergeron gave Hammond both night's starts, the first time he had given either goaltender consecutive starts all season. Though the decision isn't final and competition is open the rest of the season for the starting job, Hammond's line over the last five games suggest that he is the favorite for the rest of the year. Over 276:31 in his last five games, he has allowed only eight goals, posting a 1.74 GAA and a .944 save percentage while obtaining a 1-2-1-1 record.
Click here for complete BGSU game notes ... to see head coach Chris Bergeron's press conference earlier this week, click here.
BG Hockey : Kevin Piel w/Dennis Williams
Friday, April 25
BG HKY Postgame 3/15/25
Sunday, March 16
BG Hky Postgame 03.08
Sunday, March 09
BG Hky Postgame 3.7
Saturday, March 08