Battle In Bemidji: Falcons Prep For Second Round Of WCHA Playoffs

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University hockey team is preparing for the second round of the WCHA playoffs for the seventh straight season, this time heading to Bemidji, Minnesota to take on the Beavers.

RV Bowling Green Falcons (21-13-4, 14-10-4-3 WCHA)
vs.
#11 Bemidji State Beavers (22-10-5, 20-5-3-2 WCHA)

GAME INFORMATION	Friday, March 13, 8:07 p.m. EST
GAME INFORMATION	Saturday, March 14, 7:07 p.m. EST
GAME INFORMATION	(IF NECESSARY) Sunday, March 15, 7:07 pm. EST
LOCATION	Bemidji, Minn. / Sanford Center
WATCH	FloHockey.TV
RADIO	Falcon Radio Network
LIVE STATS	Friday / Saturday / Sunday
LISTEN ONLINE	BGSUFalcons.com
GAME NOTES	Bowling Green

Bombarding The Beavers
After riding an eight game unbeaten streak to nearly end the regular season, spanning from Jan. 25 until Feb. 28, Bemidji State fell to Minnesota State to close their regular season, resulting in the unbeaten streak being book-ended by losses to the Mavericks. The loss to close the regular season rolled into the playoffs with Bemidji State and Lake Superior State being the only series to go three games in the first round, seeing Bemidji win Friday and Sunday to advance after falling short on Saturday.

The Series At A Glance
The Falcons and Beavers last met in the WCHA playoffs during the 2016-17 series, facing off in the semifinals in Bemidji. In that series, Bowling Green came away with the series sweep, winning the first game 4-3 in overtime before snagging a 2-1 win to advance to the WCHA Championship. As for this season, the teams only played once, also being in Bemidji, with the series taking place on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Bemidji State came away with the sweep in the series, marking the last loss for the Falcons, as they are now on a 10 game unbeaten streak, being 8-0-2 since last facing the Beavers. In series history, Bowling Green and Bemidji State have met in the postseason a total of just two times with the Falcons winning both series.

Last Time Out
Continuing momentum from the regular season, the Falcons traveled to Fairbanks last weekend and came away with a sweep, their first sweep over Alaska since 2014-15. The pair of wins extended their current unbeaten streak to 10 games, being 8-0-2 over the span, including having now won six straight. On Friday against the Nanooks, Tim Theocharidis totaled three points for the Falcons, including the game-winning goal on a power play. As for Saturday, Max Johnson had three points as well. Overall, Brandon Kruse led the way for the series, totaling five assists on the Falcons' seven goals over the weekend sweep.

Around The WCHA
The WCHA playoffs began with anticipation last weekend, beginning with an upset. On Saturday, three teams advanced to the semifinals, being Bowling Green, Minnesota State and Michigan Tech. Tech captured a long victory on Saturday, needing three overtime periods to complete the upset over rival Northern Michigan. Meanwhile, Minnesota State topped Alaska Anchorage while Bowling Green swept Alaska. As for Bemidji State and Lake Superior State, they needed a third game to decide a winner, seeing Bemidji State seal the deal with an empty-net goal to advance and avoid the upset.

The Season Of Streaks: Part 1
With the win on Friday, the Falcons reached the 20-win mark for the sixth consecutive season, beginning the streak in the 2014-15 season. The current streak is now tied for the second longest in program history with a streak that spanned the entirety of Ron Mason's tenure at the helm of the Falcons, being from the 1973-74 season until 1978-79. The longest streak is currently set at nine seasons, spanning from 1981-82 until 1989-90.

The Season Of Streaks: Part 2
With the series sweep over Alaska, the Falcons continued two postseason streaks that are closely linked. In the WCHA, the Falcons have advanced pass the first round of the postseason for seven straight seasons, being every year Bowling Green has been a member of the conference. In addition, the Falcons have also now won a best-of-three series in 10 straight seasons.

The Season Of Streaks: Part 3
While continuing three program streaks that span multiple seasons, the Falcons also extended a streak that is now at 10 games, being unbeaten. Since Feb. 7, Bowling Green has gone 8-0-2, which stands as the longest active unbeaten streak in the country while also having a winning streak of now six games.

Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons hockey team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGFalconHockey
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgfalconhockey'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results