Power Play Lifts Falcons Past Bemidji 7-2 To Force Deciding Game Three

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Bowling Green, Ohio - The Bowling Green Falcons rode their best power play performance in eight years to an emphatic 7-2 victory over Bemidji State in the second game of the best-of-three WCHA Tournament first round series Saturday night at the BGSU Ice Arena. The victory ensures a decisive third game Sunday night at 7:07 pm at the BGSU Ice Arena. The winner will earn a trip to the WCHA Final Five in Grand Rapids, Mich. next weekend.

The Beavers began the series ranked fourth nationally in the penalty kill and had given up only 16 power play goals in 143 chances through 37 games. But tonight, the Falcons erupted for four. It was the most BSU had given up in one game all season, and it is the most for a BGSU team since Nov. 9, 2007.

"We had good zone time," BGSU Head Coach Chris Bergeron said. "We made some good individual plays, but there was no special secret -- no major changes. Our guys did a nice job of taking what the game gave us, and then when there was a play to be made, we made it."

The Falcons' offense did not stop on special teams. They sealed the game with three goals in the final six minutes of the game, two at even strength and one with an empty net. The last two came just nine seconds apart, the second-fastest two-goal flurry of the season.

The game began slowly for BGSU, as Bemidji State outshot the Falcons 8-2 during the first ten minutes of the opening period. However, the flow of the game changed when BSU's Jordan Heller was sent to the box for hooking at the 9:57 mark.

Halfway through the power play, the Beavers cleared the puck, and goaltender Chris Nell went behind the net, where Nate Arentz knocked him down. Arentz was called for goaltender interference, but before play could be stopped, Sean Walker sailed the puck past Michael Bitzer from the deep slot. Brent Tate and Kevin Dufour assisted, as BGSU took a 1-0 lead. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

The penalty on Arentz started immediately after the Walker goal, and the Falcons scored again just 25 seconds later. Brandon Hawkins took a shot from the point that glanced off the right post and into the net for a 2-0 edge with 8:27 left in the first. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

Two minutes later, Gerry Fitzgerald notched a power play goal for Bemidji State, but the Falcons answered right back. BSU took back-to-back penalties late in the period, and with Dillon Eichstadt still in the box, BGSU added their third goal. Kevin Dufour slipped the puck from the crease past Bitzer's right side. Brent Tate took the lead assist for his second point of the period. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

BGSU held a 3-1 lead after one period, but the second period did not go particularly well. The Falcons managed just four shots until the last 90 seconds, and they had to kill off two BSU power plays.

The only damage in the period came when BSU was awarded a penalty shot 6:04 into the frame. Connor McDonald was called for hooking on a Kyle Bauman breakaway. Bauman was able to muscle the penalty shot past Nell to make the score 3-2. It was BGSU's first allowed penalty shot goal since Dec. 2, 2005.

The Beavers finally took their first penalty of the second when John Parker was called for roughing with 1:17 left in the period. The Falcons were not successful with two shots before the clock expired, but they were able to open the third with a 3-2 lead and a man advantage.

Bowling Green earned their fourth power play goal of the game only 27 seconds into the third period. Mark Friedman scored from the point with help from Stephen Baylis and Mark Cooper, and BGSU owned a 4-2 lead. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

That score held until Mark Cooper scored from the left circle with 5:37 to go. (CLICK HERE for the goal call) One minute after the Falcons took a 5-2 lead, Dufour was called for tripping. Bitzer went off to give BSU a 6-on-4 advantage, but they could not score.

Bitzer remained on the bench after Dufour's penalty was done, and Friedman scored his second goal of the game ten seconds later. His shot came from the left circle on the Beavers' side of the ice. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

BSU ended their empty net experiment, but Jakob Reichert lit the lamp with 2:36 to play for the final goal of the 7-2 victory. (CLICK HERE for the goal call) The last two scores came nine seconds apart, the second-fastest two goal barrage of the season for the Falcons.

Friedman led the Falcons as he posted a two-goal game and added an assist for three points. The goals and points are both the most in a single game in Friedman's career.

Stephen Baylis continues his red-hot ways. He assisted on three of Bowling Green's seven goals and now has a seven-game point streak. No other current Falcon has ever had a streak that long. He now has 22 points this season, and fourteen of those have occurred in the last seven games.

Dufour, Cooper and Hawkins, BGSU's three goal-scoring leaders, each added one to their season totals tonight. Dufour also provided an assist.

In goal, Nell saved 37 of the 39 shots he faced, including all 14 in the third period.

Bowling Green is now 21-13-6 this season and faces a winner-take-all game tomorrow night against Bemidji State. The contest will begin at 7:07 pm and will determine which team will go to the WCHA Final Five. BGSU is 7-0 all-time in best-of-three deciding games, including a 4-0 mark under Bergeron.

If BGSU advances, they will face either Ferris State or Minnesota State in the semifinals. The opponent will be MSU if the Mavericks beat Lake Superior State tomorrow night. If MSU loses, the Falcons will play FSU.

All student tickets are free, courtesy of alumni Rob Blake and Nelson Emerson (CLICK HERE to read of their generosity). The first 150 students in attendance will receive free pizza and one student will have a chance to win Coke for a year.

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