Bowling Green Advances To WCHA Championship Game With Double OT Victory Over NMU

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MARQUETTE, Mich. – The No. 3 seeded Bowling Green State University hockey team completed their second straight playoff series sweep defeating the No. 2 seeded Northern Michigan Wildcats on Saturday (March 16) night in double overtime by a final score of 2-1. The Falcons scored twice on 43 shots on goal. Bowling Green would take an early lead in the contest with a goal from Connor Ford in the first period. Northern Michigan would tie the game early in the second period with a power play goal. The Falcons and Wildcats would battle all the way to double overtime where Sam Craggs would score to win the contest for BGSU. The victory advances the Bowling Green State University hockey program to its second appearance in the WCHA Championship over the previous three seasons. Bowling Green will travel to Mankato, Minnesota to play the Mavericks of Minnesota State for the WCHA title next Saturday (March 23).

Box Score (PDF)

Scoring Plays

At 15:12 into the first period, Connor Ford would deflect in a goal on a shot taken by Chris Pohlkamp from the blue line. Both Pohlkamp and Stephen Baylis would get credited with assists.
Northern Michigan would tie the game 21 seconds into the second period with a power play goal from Darien Craighead. Philip Beaulieu and Adam Rockwood would tally assists.
It was not until 2:09 into the second overtime period that Sam Craggs would win the contest for Bowling Green. Will Cullen and Alec Rauhauser would assist him on the play.

Goal Call

To hear Ryan Vallon's call of Sam Craggs' overtime game-winning goal click HERE.

Other Key Plays

Bowling Green's PK unit would kill off some power play opportunities by from the Wildcats early in the first period.
Bowling Green generated a five-on-three power play opportunity midway through the second period in which they rung two great shots off the post behind NMU goaltender Atte Tolvanen.
The contest was punctuated by excellent goaltending from both Ryan Bednard and Atte Tolvanen. The Falcons and Wildcats both battle to two overtime periods to decide a winner.

Falcon Stat Facts

The Bowling Green Falcons have won five straight games, which is their longest winning streak of the 2018-19 regular season. This is also the first time the team has swept two consecutive best-of-three playoff series since the 2016-17 season (7 straight wins on their way to the title game).
BGSU has advanced to their second WCHA Championship game in three seasons. This will be the second time the Falcons will play in the title game since joining the conference after the 2012-13 season.
The Falcons' overall record extends to 25-9-5. This is the most wins the Bowling Green hockey program has achieved in a single season since the 1995-96 season (26 under former Head Coach Buddy Powers), and the most wins under current Head Coach Chris Bergeron.
Connor Ford has scored a goal in four straight games for the Orange and Brown. His point streak extends to five games as he has tallied eight points over this winning-streak.
Sam Craggs' overtime game-winner was his eighth goal of the season. The power forward now has 15 points on the season.
With an assist is tonight's game, Alec Rauhauser extends his point streak to two games.

Coach Bergeron's Take

"I'm happy with the way our guys persevered and stayed with it. Obviously both teams were really tired…I thought we played well, I just thought we played really well last night, and their level went up. I'm really proud of the group. Coming up here and winning two games. It was a tough pill to swallow, the fact that we had to come here, because we couldn't take care of our business and finish in second. But to take the series up here, it feels pretty good right now."
Coach's thoughts on advancing to the team's second WCHA Championship game in three years, "Really proud of our group, that's not nothing. We did it just like did two years ago on the road in the semifinals and beat the number one team in the league that year. Our seniors were in that game, and unfortunately part of that heartbreak is that double overtime loss. It sounds like its Mankato and we know how good they are. But in a one game situation I think our group is pretty good. We're going to rest up here, get home and get to Mankato with a good positive mindset."

Up Next

The Orange and Brown will travel to Mankato, Minnesota to take on the Mavericks of Minnesota State University. This will be one game to decide the 2019 WCHA Tournament Championship with an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament at stake.

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.

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