It was a tale of two very different nights for the BG hockey team over the weekend as the Falcons were able to scratch out a point against Alaska-Fairbanks, but failed to end their current eight-game winless streak.
Special teams play dominated the weekend, with Alaska (8-13-5, 6-10-4) and its top-ranked power play in the CCHA (.208) scoring four power-play goals on Friday en route to a 5-2 win.
BG (5-22-2, 3-17-1) responded on Saturday, stopping 11 of 12 Nanook power plays, earning a hard-fought 2-2 tie in a game with 30:39 of total power play time.
“It was a very physical game that capped off a physical weekend,” said BG coach Scott Paluch. “Despite the tie and one point at home on the weekend, I thought it was an important game for our team with the way we stayed with things.”
Falcon goaltender Jimmy Spratt (4-15-1) saved 37 Alaska shots in each game. The sophomore was a big reason BG stayed in the game on Saturday, providing the backbone for a penalty-kill that stopped three different 5-on-3 advantages for the Nanooks.
“Unbelievable,” said BG forward Ben Geelan of Spratt’s play. “I’ve played with [Spratt] for two years and this was probably the best hockey game I have seen him play. He’s been giving a 110 percent every game he’s played this year – it’s good that we can finally give him some support.”
The support that the BG offense provided Spratt on Saturday came in the form of two power-play goals. Forward Brandon Svendsen tied the game at 1-1 in the first period on a one-timer from Todd McIlrath for his fourth goal of the season.
Alaska forward Curtis Fraser, who scored three goals on the weekend, put the Nanooks in front 2-1 in the third on a shot Spratt was able to get a piece of, but still found the back of the net.
BG answered in dramatic fashion with McIlrath wristing a shot past Alaska goalie Wylie Rogers to tie the game with just over four minutes left in regulation. The goal would come just over a minute after a James Unger rebound appeared to tie the game, but after video review, was disallowed and Alaska would keep their slim one-goal lead for the time being.
The Falcons held a 2-1 shot advantage in overtime, but both goaltenders denied any serious scoring chances for the 2-2 final.
“I thought [Bowling Green] was a much more spirited team [Saturday]. Their intensity and speed was far better,” said Alaska coach Travis MacMillan. “The difference between us and them was that we didn’t match that on our part.”
Friday’s contest again was dominated by penalties, but this time the Nanooks showed why they have the best power play in the CCHA. Alaska converted on four of nine chances with the man-advantage and outshot the Falcons 42-18 for the 5-2 win.
Jonathan Matsumoto (10) and Tommy Dee (2) provided the scoring for BG on the game, and the Falcons found themselves tied 2-2 in the third period.
Alaska responded by scoring three power-play goals in a span of just over 10 minutes to put the game out of reach and end their own nine-game losing streak.
After the single point earned by BG, the Falcons remain in the cellar of the CCHA with conference leader Notre Dame coming to the BG Ice Arena for a pair of games this weekend.
For Paluch and the Falcons, Saturday’s tie is a positive in a season that has seen plenty of negatives in terms of wins and losses.
“I’m really pleased with the way our team stayed with it mentally and that allowed us a point,” Paluch said. “[Points] haven’t been very easy for us to get and I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
