The BGSU hockey team returns home this weekend looking to get back on track in the CCHA as they host the Ohio State Buckeyes in a pair of conference games.
BG (3-6-1, 1-5-0) has struggled as of late, losing six out of the last seven games, and dropping to the bottom of the CCHA standings.
Ohio State (2-6-2, 2-4-2) has not fared much better. The games this weekend will almost be must-wins for both of the teams if they hope to challenge the league.
BG coach Scott Paluch acknowledges the importance of this weekend’s games, but is confident that the team will perform.
“We expect to play extremely well and earn some points here. That’s what we do in our league,” Paluch said. “We’re not sitting at 1-5 and happy about it, but we also understand there’s been some strong positives in our play.”
The power play has not been one of those positives for the Falcons, as BG has gone scoreless in its last 38 opportunities with an extra attacker. In BG’s six losses this season, the offense is averaging only 1.17 goals per game.
The Falcons will have a good chance of turning those offensive struggles around this weekend against the Buckeyes, as OSU has had its own problems with the penalty kill. For the season, Ohio State has managed to stop only 71.9 percent of their opponents’ power play chances.
“With [Ohio State’s] penalty kill, which has been giving goals up, and our power play which has not been able to score, something’s going to give,” Paluch said.
The importance of winning this weekend is intensified by the fact that the Falcons will be trying to turn their play around against one of their biggest rivals.
After experiencing the rivalry first-hand as an All-American defensemen here at BG from 1984-1988, Paluch admits that the OSU game is always one of extra importance.
“Through the years, going back to my playing days and before, [Ohio State’s] always been a fun team to play against,” Paluch said. “Ultimately, the importance for us right now is to put ourselves in a position to win and move on.”
The puck drops both tonight and tomorrow night at 7:05 in the Ice Arena.
