Falcons Inch Closer To Home Ice With 4-3 Win Over Ferris State

Friday, February 26

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

18-11-6, 14-6-5

Ferris State

14-12-6, 12-9-4

Ferris State

Bowling Green

Photo by: Ruben Kappler, BGSU Marketing & Communications

February 26, 2016 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: by Matt Daley, BGSUFalcons.com

Box Score
Photo Gallery

Bowling Green, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University hockey team faced a determined opponent, a two-goal deficit and a broken glass delay in the first of their two-game weekend series with Ferris State. Despite the obstacles, the Falcons used late-game heroics from Stephen Baylis to defeat the Bulldogs 4-3 at the BGSU Ice Arena and go to the brink of clinching home ice in the WCHA Tournament.

"I liked the fight in our group tonight," BGSU Head Coach Chris Bergeron said. "When we are at our best, it's four lines and 12 forwards contributing offensively. I thought we had that."

The victory was a team effort for BGSU through an attacking offense, a defense that became stronger as the game progressed and solid net play from Chris Nell.

Offensively, three players accounted for the Falcons' four goals, and eight posted at least one point. Four earned multiple points, including senior Mark Cooper and Baylis.

On defense, Bowling Green limited FSU to 32 shots overall and just seven in the third period. After FSU's final power play expired with 13:11 left on the clock, the Bulldogs were held to just two shots. However, BGSU's defense, spearheaded by a strong forecheck, may have saved the game after taking a 4-3 lead.

BGSU consistently refused to allow the Bulldogs to penetrate their defensive zone during the final 2:47, as they kept the puck bottled up either in the neutral zone or the Falcons' offensive end. This kept FSU from pulling their goalie for a man advantage.

In net, Chris Nell provided another impressive performance. He saved 29 of 32 shots and 16 of the 17 he faced after FSU took a 2-0 lead, despite facing several difficult chances during the final two periods.

FSU opened the festivities with a goal just 4:24 into the contest. Corey Mackin slid home his ninth goal of the season after a turnover in the corner to Nell's right. He was assisted by Andrew Dorantes and Andrew Mayer.

The remainder of the first period was very even. Both teams were physical and able to generate solid chances at the net, but neither team could dent the scoreboard after the initial goal.

With 3:44 left in the first, glass on the north end of the ice inexplicably shattered during a stoppage in play, and the game had to be delayed as it was replaced. The delay took 25 minutes, and the teams took a 15-minute intermission after the glass was repaired.

When the teams returned to the ice, the first period played out without further incident and ended with a 1-0 lead for FSU and a 15-13 edge in shots for BGSU. The two teams took just a one-minute break before switching sides for the second period.

FSU created trouble for the Falcons immediately when the second period began. Nell was able to save a shot off a breakaway, but Dorantes scored 57 seconds into the period for a 2-0 lead when the Falcons could not clear.

Bowling Green finally lit the lamp after killing off the Bulldogs' first power play chance when Cooper, who had just exited the penalty box, forced a turnover. He fed Mitch McLain, who took a shot at FSU goalie Darren Smith. Smith made a pad save, but Tyler Spezia was there to knock in the rebound. With 3:31 gone in the second, the Falcons had cut the deficit to 2-1. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

Two minutes later, the Falcons struck again. Kevin Dufour was the beneficiary this time when he took advantage of a fight for the puck in the crease. The goal, his tenth, tied the game 2-2 with 14:09 left in the second. McLain and Matt Pohlkamp were awarded assists on the play. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

Ferris State pulled ahead again later in the period when Sean O'Rourke sent a laser from just inside the blue line which was deflected past Nell. The goal gave FSU a 3-2 lead that they carried into the final 20 minutes.

However, the Bulldogs' Tyler Dorantes took a penalty for holding with ten seconds left in the second frame. When the third period began, BGSU took advantage of the mistake. Dufour blasted home his second goal of the night from the right circle to give the Falcons a successful power play and a 3-3 tie with 18:57 to play. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

As the third period progressed, the Falcons were able to continue to apply pressure on offense while FSU could not. With 2:47 to go in the game, it finally paid off when Baylis sent the puck past Smith on a tip in after a shot by Sean Walker for the winning 4-3 margin. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

Dufour scored two goals for the fifth time in his career and the first this season. He, Baylis, Cooper and McLain all earned two points. Jose Delgadillo saw his first action since Dec. 5 and, along with Adam Smith, led the Falcons with a +2 on-ice rating.

Bowling Green is now 18-11-6 and 14-6-5 in the WCHA, while Ferris State falls to 14-12-6 overall and 12-9-4 in the WCHA. The win for the Falcons was key in the race for home ice in the WCHA Tournament. They now have 33 points and lead both Ferris State and Northern Michigan by five points after NMU lost to Lake Superior State.

To clinch home ice Saturday, the Falcons need a win or a tie against FSU. They can also clinch with a loss if NMU either loses or ties.

As of publication of this story, BGSU is in a three-way tie with Michigan Tech and Minnesota State for first place. MTU defeated Alaska on Friday, while MSU played at Alaska-Anchorage. An MSU loss in that game would maintain the three-way tie with three games remaining.

BGSU and FSU will play the finale of the two-game series on Saturday night at 7:07 pm. It will be Senior Night, and Tommy Burke, Cooper, Delgadillo, Ben Murphy and Brent Tate will be honored. The Sic Sic unmasking of Laura Bush and Spider Man will take place during the second intermission.

Postgame Notes
* BGSU Hockey earned its 18^th win Friday night, the third consecutive year in which the Falcons have won at least that many games.
* The Falcons improved to 7-1-5 at home in WCHA play this year.
* Chris Bergeron won his 98^th game as a head coach – all with the Falcons.
* Chris Nell picked up his 20^th career win between the pipes.
* Stephen Baylis recorded his first career game-winning goal.
* Baylis has scored points in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
* Tyler Spezia has tied his career-high with a three-game point scoring streak. He has two goals and an assist in the last three games.
* With an assist on the game-winning goal, captain Sean Walker extended his point scoring streak to four games. He has a goal and four assists during the stretch.
* BGSU won for the first time this year when trailing after the first period (now 1-5-3) and when trailing after two periods (now 1-9-3).
* Ferris State was 0-for-3 on the power play and the Falcons have now killed off 16 consecutive power play chances by opponents. The BGSU penalty kill has now climbed into the top 20 nationally after ending second a year ago.
* Bowling Green improved to 14-0-1 this year when scoring three goals or more and 10-0-1 when scoring at least four goals.
* The Falcons posted 40 shots on goal, improving to 3-0-1 this year when reaching 40 shots.
* BGSU is now 8-4-3 on Fridays, with an identical 8-4-3 record on Saturdays.
* Playing his first game since Dec. 5, senior Jose Delgadillo was +2 on-ice, tied for team-best honors.
* Mitch McLain posted his first two-assist and two-point game of the season, generating six shots on goal.