Falcons Steamroll Alaska 4-1

Saturday, February 20

Fairbanks, Alaska

11:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

17-11-6, 13-6-5WCHA

Alaska

8-18-4, 6-14-4WCHA

Bowling Green

Alaska

February 21, 2016 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

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

Box Score

Fairbanks, Alaska – Matt Pohlkamp had a goal and an assist as the Bowling Green State University hockey team salvaged a split of its weekend series with Alaska, defeating the Nanooks 4-1 Saturday evening.

The Falcons showed the resiliency that it's flashed throughout the year, bouncing back from a devastating loss Friday night when Alaska scored shorthanded with nine seconds remaining for a 2-1 win. Bowling Green, in fact, posted a shorthanded goal of its own Saturday night as the Falcons scored the first four goals of the game.

BGSU used a strong special teams effort to get out to the big lead. Captain Sean Walker scored on the power play in the first period for a 1-0 lead and Mark Cooper added a second period shorthanded goal that gave the Falcons a 3-0 advantage. In total, the Falcons were 1-for-5 on the power play and 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.

Alaska outshot the Falcons 10-8 in the first period but Bowling Green took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission as Walker's shot from the point on the power play beat goalie Jesse Jenks 15:59 into the game. Tyler Spezia and Brent Tate earned assists as they worked to control a loose puck and find Walker for the goal. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

The Falcons built on that lead early in the second when Stephen Baylis' wrister was redirected by Pohlkamp in front of the net at the 3:46 mark of the period. (CLICK HERE for the goal call) Pohlkamp then set up the next goal as he forced a turnover on an Alaska power play and fed Cooper. Cooper finished the play for the shorthanded goal and a 3-0 lead after two. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

In the third, freshman Joe McKeown buried a shot from the slot at the 3:26 mark for his second career goal. Mark Friedman and Brett D'Andrea were credited with assists on the goal. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

Chris Nell made an attempt at his fourth shutout of the season and seventh of his career, which would have tied the BGSU record, but Alaska broke it up with less than nine minutes to play on a Marcus Basara goal. Nell made 21 saves on the night but did not face a lot of quality chances, a fact made remarkable by the fact that the Falcons played just five defensemen both nights due to illness.

"I thought our defense played well all weekend long," BGSU head coach Chris Bergeron said. "As we look back on our season, we've probably played some of our best hockey with only five defensemen dressed. That wasn't the plan this weekend, but our defense has stepped up in those situations all year."

BGSU improved to 4-1-2 on the season when playing just five defensemen in the lineup, with five of those contests coming during the first half of the season before freshmen Adam Smith and Jordan Ernst arrived to begin the second semester.

For the game, Bowling Green outshot Alaska 25-22. Mitch McLain and Pohlkamp had a team-high three shots. Defensively, Friedman and Chris Pohlkamp tied for team-high honors with two blocks. Connor McDonald and Cooper were both a +2 on-ice.

Alaska falls to 8-18-4 with the loss and 6-14-4 in WCHA play. Bowling Green improves to 17-11-6 overall and 13-6-5 in the WCHA. The Falcons remain tied with Michigan Tech for second play in the league standings. Both teams trail Minnesota State by just two points for the WCHA lead with just four games remaining in the regular season.

BGSU returns home for the final regular season weekend in the BGSU Ice Arena. The Falcons host Ferris State Friday and Saturday at 7:07 pm. On Friday, Eddie Power and Ray Schneider will hold a book signing for "Cavallini from Kane", their book about the 1984 BGSU National Championship team. Saturday will be Senior Night, recognizing Tommy Burke, Cooper, Jose Delgadillo, Ben Murphy and Brent Tate.