Falcons Rip Wolverines

Saturday, January 21, 2006
BGSU Ice Arena, Bowling Green, Ohio

The Falcons came out flying in this game, took an early lead in the first period, and then poured it on in the final two periods of play to send the Wolverines down to defeat for the fourth straight time on the road by a five to two score.

The Falcons got on the board first in this game with just over sixteen minutes to play. Johnson made a play on the puck in the Bowling Green end, but he missed the puck creating an opening for Bowling Green, an opening they didn't miss. Carrying the puck up the left side boards Bowling Green broke into the Michigan zone, sending a centering pass to a teammate who had a full step on the chasing Michigan defense. Making a small move to freeze Ruden opened up a gap at the top of the net that he filled with the puck with a nice little back hand shot.

The first period would come to an end with Bowling Green holding the slim one to nothing lead. Michigan out shot the Falcons fifteen thirteen in the period.

With the clock just under eighteen minutes the Wolverines were chasing the puck all around their own end unable to gain control and giving up several big shots which Ruden was able to turn away. However, a shot from the point that made its way through a number of bodies and may have been redirected got past Ruden for Bowling Greens second score the game.

With exactly fourteen minutes left to play in the period Michigan would be whistled for their first penalty of the game and it would prove costly. The Falcons looked to be making a pass out of the corner and at the same time Ruden moved to his left to cover a Falcon who the Michigan defense had left completely uncovered. As the puck came in front of the Michigan net it was redirected through the gap made by Rudens move giving the Falcons a power play goal and a three to nothing lead.

Bowling Green was whistled for a penalty with the clock showing just under four minutes to play in the period. The Falcons had done a great job on the penalty kill, getting quite a bit of pressure on the Wolverine goal. In the final seconds of the power play Bowling Green had taken the puck and were skating through center ice when the Wolverines were able to steal it and head back into the Falcon zone on a three on one break. As he came down the slot Kolarik had the puck and fired a shot that beat the Falcon net minder for the score. Porter and Johnson each picked up assists on the power play goal.

The second period would come to an end with Bowling Green holding onto a three to one lead. The Falcons out shot the Wolverines fifteen to twelve in the period to end forty minutes of play with a twenty-eight to twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal.

Hunwick was whistled for a penalty at the twenty minute mark of the second period so the teams will skate four on four for thirty-four seconds, then Bowling Green will have 1:26 of power play time to start. The Falcons went to the power play and the Wolverines had done a great job of keeping them out of the Michigan zone, but with less than twenty-five seconds in the man advantage the Falcons had gotten into the Michigan zone and had the puck down low. Making a pass through the crease the puck was tipped in front to get behind Ruden for the score.

With the clock just under eighteen minutes, seconds after giving up that power play goal Hunwick was sent to the penalty box for the second straight time to put the Falcons back on the power play. With about sixteen and half minutes left to play the Falcons would score their second straight power play goal when the defense left a Falcon completely alone in front of the net. One of his team mates got the puck to him and he scored the Falcons fifth goal of the game. Ruden was pulled and Sauer is now in the game.

The Falcons were whistled for a penalty with eleven and half minutes left to play in the final period. Michigan was passing the puck around the Falcon zone well and closing down around the goal. Hensick made a pass from the circle back down to Porter who blasted a shot as soon as the puck hit his stick, getting the puck behind the Falcon net minder for the Wolverines second score of the game. Hensick and Kolarik each picked up assists on the power play goal.

The game would come to an end with Bowling Green winning by a score of five to two. Bowling Green out shot the Wolverines twenty-one to six in the third period to end the game with a forty-nine to thirty-three advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines didn't play that poorly except perhaps in the third period when Bowling Green really kept the pressure on Michigan. However, the Falcons simply played harder out working the Wolverines for the majority of the night. The downward spiral this hockey team seems to be in continues as they split another weekend while Miami's lead continues to grow in the CCHA. If Michigan wants a post season this year they simply must start winning games as they have played themselves into a position where any further losses could be the difference a post season or no post season.