Bowling Green Secures Fifth Straight 20 Win Season In 3-1 Victory Over Bemidji State

Friday, February 22

Bemidji, Minn.

8:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

20-8-4; 15-7-3-2

Bemidji State

15-13-5; 13-9-3-2

Bowling Green

Bemidji State

Bowling Green Secures Fifth Straight 20 Win Season In 3-1 Victory Over Bemidji State

February 22, 2019 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: By Kellan Godfrey, BGSU Athletic Communications

Next Home Game

The Falcons will return to Slater Family Ice Arena on March 1 for a two game series against Alabama Huntsville. This series will conclude the regular season for Bowling Green, and will feature George McPhee Bobbleheads on March 1 and Senior Night on March 2. The Friday game (March 1) will begin at 8:07 PM with Saturday's (March 2) puck drop set for 7:07 PM.

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The No. 15 ranked Bowling Green State University hockey team secured their fifth straight season of 20 wins or more on Friday (Feb. 22) night defeating Bemidji State by a final score of 3-1. The Falcons scored three times on 22 shots on goal. BGSU got off to a fast start as Max Johnson scored 26 seconds into the contest. Will Cullen would add a power play goal in the second period. The Falcons would hold off a late game push from the Beavers for Stephen Baylis to eventually score an empty net goal. The Orange and Brown face-off with the Beavers for game two of this series on Saturday (Feb. 23) night at 8:07 PM eastern time. This will be the final game of the regular season series between Bowling Green and Bemidji State, and will be the final road contest for the Falcons for the 2018-19 regular season.

Box Score (PDF)

Scoring Plays

Max Johnson would light the lamp for Bowling Green just 26 seconds into the game taking advantage of an opportunity right in front. He was assisted on the play by Brandon Kruse and Alec Rauhauser. This was goal number 25 of Johnson's career.
Early in the second period at 2:27 in, Will Cullen would find the rebound on the right wing side to score a power play goal for BGSU. Taylor Schneider and Chris Pohlkamp would tally assists. This was Will Cullen's third straight game with a power play goal.
Bemidji State would cut into the Bowling Green lead 2:46 into the third period as Alex Ierullo would score on a centering pass. He would be assisted by Tyler Kirkup and Jay Dickman would tally assists.
Stephen Baylis would secure the victory for the Falcons scoring an empty net goal with 2:50 left in the third period. John Schilling and Connor Ford would pick up assists.

Other Key Plays

BGSU would kill off two early penalties within the closing minutes of the first period, as they held strong on a five-on-three and five-on-four opportunity for Bemidji State. This would allow the Falcons to take the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Bowling Green would kill off a pair of late game penalties keeping the Beavers off the scoreboard through a five-on-three power play opportunity before ultimately drawing a power play of their own. Bemidji State was held scoreless on the power play on the night.

Falcon Stat Facts

With tonight's victory the Bowling Green hockey program secured its fifth season in a row of 20 wins or more. This is the longest streak of consecutive 20-plus win seasons since Bowling Green did it two years straight during the 1994-95 (25 wins) and 1995-96 seasons (26 wins).
Max Johnson's goal was number 25 of his career. He now has 28 points on the season, which is two shy of matching his total from his freshman year.
Will Cullen extended his scoring streak to three straight games tallying another power play goal in the second period. His three power play goals over the last three games lead the other Falcon first years. Cullen has four goals total this year.
Stephen Baylis extended his point streak to three straight games with his empty net goal. The senior captain now has 88 points in his career with the Orange and Brown.
Connor Ford extended his point streak to five straight games. The sophomore has six points over the last five games. Both Ford and John Schilling have recorded 12 points total for the Falcons over the last five games.

Coach Bergeron's Take

Keys to victory, "I thought we defended really well. I thought we did just enough around their net. I thought through two period we were really good, they only had two shots in the second. When the third came we knew they were going to push. We killed penalties well tonight; when it was five-on-three for 1:20 we had a good kill there. I think the way we defended overall, whether it was five-on-five or five-on-four was the key.
On five straight seasons of 20 wins or more, "Extremely proud of that. 20 wins in hockey, at least as long as I've been in college hockey has always been a really good number. I am proud of that achievement for on behalf of all of us. Ty, Barry, myself, all the players that have been part of it. I think five years in a row is a good thing and there's still lots of hockey to play. That gives us something else to play for."

Up Next

The Orange and Brown wraps up this two game series with Bemidji State on Saturday (Feb. 23) night. Puck drop for the second game will be at 8:07 PM eastern time. BGSU then returns home to conclude their regular season schedule next weekend against Alabama Huntsville (March 1-2).

Follow the Falcons

For more information on the hockey program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGFalconHockey and @BGAthletics) and on Instagram (bgfalconhockey) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.