Bednard Leads BGSU to First Shutout of 2016

Saturday, November 26

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

7-7-2, 6-3-1WCHA

Alaska Anchorage

1-11-2, 0-6-2WCHA

Alaska Anchorage

Bowling Green

November 26, 2016 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: by Matthew Daley, Athletic Communicationis Assistant

Box Score
Spezia Goal Call 1-0
Craggs Goal Call 2-0
Linkenheld Goal Call 3-0

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University hockey team ran their unbeaten streak to six games and earned their first shutout of the season by defeating Alaska-Anchorage 3-0 on Saturday night at the BGSU Ice Arena. Tyler Spezia scored his second game-winning goal in the last two weekends while freshman goaltender Ryan Bednard earned his first career victory and shutout.

The Falcons once again wasted no time in establishing a lead. The BGSU defense, outstanding throughout, created a turnover that led to a four-on-one rush. Mitch McLain fed Mark Friedman, who sent a fantastic pass in front of the crease to Spezia. Spezia flung the puck past the right of goalie Olivier Mantha for a 1-0 lead at the 3:58 mark of the first.

Spezia's goal was all Bowling Green would need, but the Falcons added insurance a few minutes later. This time, Spezia helped create the turnover that led to a breakaway for Lukas Craggs. Craggs took his shot right in front of Mantha and snuck the puck past his glove side with 13:07 left in the opening period. The Falcons are now 5-0-2 when scoring first.

BGSU maintained the 2-0 lead for the remainder of the first 20 minutes, despite facing a pair of Alaska-Anchorage power plays. The Seawolves failed to take advantage and managed just five shots on goal for the entire period.

The Falcons added their final goal of the night after turning away another Seawolves' power play. Casey Linkenheld took advantage of a redirected puck in front of Mantha for his first career goal and point. McLain and Jacob Dalton were credited with assists on the play at the 6:07 mark of the second.

The remainder of the game belonged to Bednard and the BGSU defense. The Falcons allowed Bednard to face only six shots over the game's final 40 minutes and permitted a season-low 11 overall. Their previous low for shots on goal allowed was 15 at Ferris State. In fact, Alaska-Anchorage was credited with only 25 total shot attempts, four of which resulted in blocks by BGSU defenders.

Bowling Green had a shots-on-goal advantage of 34 to 11; the 23-shot difference equals a 41-18 edge in the team's 4-1 win at Miami. The Falcons are now 6-1-1 when taking 30 or more shots and 3-1 when allowing fewer than 20.

Special teams were also key for Bowling Green this weekend. After going a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill on Friday night, they prevented the Seawolves from scoring on all six power plays on Saturday for an 11-for-11 penalty kill series. BGSU is 4-0-1 when holding a team scoreless on the power play.

Spezia's two points give him a second multi-point game in 2016, and he now has four goals and eight assists. McLain also had a multi-point game with two assists, his third of the season. McLain leads the Falcons with eight goals, ten assists and 18 points.

BGSU is now 7-7-2 overall and 6-3-1 in WCHA games. The Falcons are unbeaten in their last six and have a 7-1-1 record in their last night. Alaska-Anchorage drops to 1-11-2 overall and 0-6-2 in the WCHA.

Bowling Green travels to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. next weekend for a pair of games with Lake Superior State at 7:07 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3. The team returns home the following weekend for a series with second-place Michigan Tech.