Falcons Extend Winning Streak With 2-1 Victory Over Northern Michigan

Friday, November 27

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

8-3-3, 5-2-2WCHA

Northern Michigan

4-4-5, 3-3-3WCHA

Northern Michigan

Bowling Green

Photo by: BGSU Marketing and Communications

Falcons Extend Winning Streak With 2-1 Victory Over Northern Michigan

November 27, 2015 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Boxscore

Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University hockey team outshot Northern Michigan 30-10 as the No. 15 Falcons won their fourth straight contest with a 2-1 conference victory over the Wildcats. The win extended BGSU 10-game unbeaten streak at home in the BGSU Ice Arena, tied with No. 3 Quinnipiac for the longest active streak in the country.

Northern Michigan's 10 shots on goal was a season low allowed by the Falcons and just the second time this year in which BGSU has allowed less than 20 shots in a contest. Bowling Green blocked 11 shots and sophomore goalie Chris Nell cleaned up most of the attempts that did get past the defense with nine saves.

"I like the way we played on both sides of the puck," BGSU Head Coach Chris Bergeron said. "I felt like we were in control of the game. Defensively, we were good and offensively, we created opportunities. And then we won the special teams."

Bowling Green also scored on the power play for the fourth straight game as Mark Friedman's slap shot from the point found the back of the net in the first period for his first goal of the year. He now has five points in the past four games, with at least one in each contest, after recording just two points in the first 10 games of the year. Ben Murphy and Sean Walker picked up assists on the score. (CLICK HERE to hear the goal call)

Friedman's goal helped Bowling Green's power play remain dangerous as the Falcons are 8-of-17 with the man advantage in the last four contests after going 1-for-3 Friday. Friedman was also a critical part of a penalty kill unit that held Northern Michigan scoreless on three chances. It ended a streak of six consecutive games allowing a power play goal for the Falcons.

Bowling Green outshot Northern Michigan 11-4 in the first period and took the 1-0 lead into the break. The score remained that way despite the fact that the Falcons held an 11-2 shots advantage in the second period.

BGSU started the third period on the power play but the Falcons were technically unable to convert. However, Tyler Spezia was able to pick up a loose puck in front of the net and ram home a shot just two seconds after the man advantage expired to put Bowling Green ahead 2-0. John Schilling and Shane Bednard picked up assists on that goal. (CLICK HERE to hear the goal call)

Northern Michigan did get back within striking distance five minutes later as John Siemer picked up a bouncing back on a breakaway and buried a shot to get the Wildcats within one. Northern Michigan, however, generated just four shots on goal in the final frame and Bowling Green picked up the 2-1 victory.

The Falcons had two other goals waved off as both Mark Cooper and Brandon Hawkins scored. Cooper's goal went to review before being disallowed while in the first period, while Hawkins' goal was quickly negated by the officials.

Freshman defenseman Chris Pohlkamp led Bowling Green with five shots on goal while Friedman, Cooper and Matt Pohlkamp tied for team-high honors with two blocked shots each.

With the win, Bowling Green improves to 8-3-3 overall and 5-2-2 in the WCHA, climbing into a three-way tie for second in the conference standings with 12 points. Minnesota State is 6-1-2 atop the conference standings with 14 points, while both Michigan Tech and Ferris State have 12 points, although both have played more league games than the Falcons. Northern Michigan falls to 4-4-5 overall and 3-3-3 in WCHA action. BGSU and NMU will play again at the BGSU Ice Arena Saturday night at 7:07 pm.

Postgame Notes
* Shane Bednard has earned an assist in each of the past three games in which he has played.
* Mark Friedman's goal was the third of his career and his first career power play goal. He also has 23 career assists.
* The Falcons improved to 6-0-2 this year when scoring first and 5-0-0 when leading after two periods.
* BGSU remains undefeated when scoring a power play goal (5-0-1) and is now a remarkable 8-0-2 when committing the same or more penalties than the opponent.
* The Falcons have been very strong in close games, improving to 4-0 in one-goal games.
* In fact, the Falcons have won each of their past four contests by exactly one goal.
* Tyler Spezia recorded his fourth career game-winning goal, two of which have come against Northern Michigan.