Four-Goal Third Period Propels Hockey Past Ferris State

Saturday, January 6

Big Rapids, Mich.

5:07PM

Bowling Green State University

11-6-6, 8-2-5-2WCHA

Ferris State

9-13-1, 6-8-1WCHA

Bowling Green

Ferris State

January 06, 2018 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: Jenna Jorgensen (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – With an explosive third period performance, the Bowling Green hockey team (11-6-6, 8-2-5 WCHA) downed WCHA foe Ferris State (9-12-1, 6-7-1 WCHA) by a score of 6-3 Saturday evening on the road. After gaining an early 2-0 lead, and falling behind 3-2 in the second, the Falcons rebounded with four unanswered goals for the 6-3 victory.

Now on a three-game win streak, the Falcons become tied with Northern Michigan in the WCHA standings at 31 points apiece, only trailing Minnesota State, who currently holds 39.

Box Score
Spezia Goal Call 1-0
Ford Goal Call 2-0
S. Craggs Goal Call 3-3
Wright Goal Call 4-3
Wright Goal Call 5-3
L. Craggs Goal Call 6-3

Scoring Plays

The Falcons came out of the gate strong, as they were able to gain a 1-0 lead just 00:54 into the game when senior Tyler Spezia notched his fourth goal of the season. Fellow senior Mitch McLain entered the Bulldog zone with a wide drive to the five hole, before Spezia was there to tuck in the rebound down low.
Midway through the opening period, freshman Connor Ford was there to extend the Falcons lead to 2-0 8:12 in with his fourth goal of the season. Bowling Green's offensive strike came when junior John Schilling picked up a turnover at the hashmarks and passed it to Ford waiting in the slot with a wrister.
It only took 2:43 of play in the start of the third period before freshman Sam Craggs was there to tie the game at 3-3 with a one-timer to the top shelf. The goal was assisted by brother Lukas Craggs at even strength.
The Falcons then took full advantage of a 5:00 power play against Ferris State as they rattled off four straight goals, including two on the power play. Early into 5x3 power play action, freshman Cameron Wright put the Falcons up 4-3 with his power play goal. Wright's second of the game was scored by picking up the rebound for a low shot on Ferris State's Kapelmaster, scoring just 3:39 after his first, both with the man advantage.
Rounding out the scoring on the night was sophomore Lukas Craggs. He was fed the puck from behind the net for a one-timer at the crease that closed out the scoring at 6-3 for the Falcons at even strength.

Statistical Standouts

Five Falcons earned multi-point nights including Cameron Wright (2G), Lukas Craggs (1G, 1A), Connor Ford (1G, 1A), Mitch McLain (2A), and John Schilling (2A).
Seven Falcons are now currently on point streaks including Rauhauser (five games), Spezia (three games), Lukas Craggs (three games), Ford (three games), Sam Craggs (two games), Schilling (two games), and McLain (two games). The five-game point streak is a new career-best for sophomore defenseman Alec Rauhauser, as he has now tallied seven points by two goals and five assists in his last five games played.
With 44 shots on goal, the Bowling Green hockey program set a new season-high on the year. The mark included a season-best of 21 shots on goal in the third period alone, to shatter its previous season-high of 42 (vs. Alabama Huntsville, Dec. 9).
The Falcons are now 7-0-0 this season when scoring four goals or more, as well as undefeated by a record of 8-0-5 when scoring first.
Senior Tyler Spezia has now scored in three straight games for the Falcons. It is the third time in his career that the Clinton Township, Mich. native has been on a three-game scoring streak, while he now tallies four points in the last five games.
With his goal in tonight's game, freshman Connor Ford has scored in back-to-back games for the first time in his career, while he is now on a career-best three-game point streak.
By notching assists on both Ford's and L. Craggs' goals, junior John Schilling is now on a two-game point streak, which ties his career-best, while also recording his third multi-point night of the season.
With his first power play goal of the night, it marked the first time since Nov. 11 that freshman Cameron Wright has scored a goal. By scoring his second of the night just 3:39 later, it also marked his first career multi-goal game. A native of Newmarket, Ontario, Wright leads the freshman class with 17 points on the season.
Also standing out on the box score was sophomore Lukas Craggs. With the final goal of the night, and assisting on younger brother Sam Craggs' earlier in the evening, the elder Craggs has now earned seven points by three goals and four assists in the last three games.
Connor McDonald led the team with a plus-3 rating on the ice, which is a season-high for the junior defenseman.
Between the pipes was freshman goaltender Eric Dop, who made 23 saves on the night, including a high of 12 in the second period. On the season, Dop improves to a 6-3-2 record, paired with a .902 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average.
The Falcons also went 2-for-5 on the power play, as well as 4-for-6 on the penalty kill. On the season, the Falcons are now .198 with the man advantage, producing on 22 of its 111 chances on the year.

Coach Bergeron's Take

"We knew our power play had to be better. We know that there are going to be opportunities, and if we want to be the team that we say we want to be, our power play needs to be better. To start out the third period by killing the 2:21 of the 5:00 major, that was huge, but I think our power play took over once we got those opportunities. We know we're capable and it's nice to see some results."
"It's been a crazy stretch, but pretty exciting too. We played at Little Caesar's Arena, and then to get back into WCHA play before we get back to school on Monday. We'll feel good about this win, we'll relax and then get ready for the quick turnaround for tomorrow afternoon."

Up Next

The Falcons will complete the series against the Bulldogs tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 7, when they faceoff at 3:07 p.m. in Big Rapids.
Bowling Green will look for the sweep against Ferris State, while the additional three points will propel them into sole possession of second place in the WCHA standings.

Follow the Falcons

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