It has been three years since BGSU hockey (17-13-4) last won a playoff game when they defeated Bemidji State in the opening game of the 2022 Mason Cup playoffs.
Last night, the Falcons broke their three-season-long streak by defeating Michigan Tech (16-16-3) in overtime.
Along with being the first playoff win in three years, the win also gave coach Dennis Williams a win in his first playoff game as BG’s head coach.
The game was a perfect example of playoff hockey; low scoring, hard checking and full of players putting their bodies on the line to help their team succeed.
“If you’re not willing to commit your body right now, you’re never gonna win,” said coach Williams. “Our guys did a really good job of sacrificing and putting themselves in shot lanes and that’s the difference in a 2-1 hockey game.
The first period saw both teams create scoring chances but it would be the Falcons to start the scoring at the very tail end of the period. With only 19.8 seconds remaining in the period, a net-front scramble resulted in junior forward Jaden Grant sliding a rebound opportunity past Michigan Tech’s freshman goaltender Ryan Manzella. Sophomore forward Brody Waters was credited with an assist during the scramble.
The second period saw no change in score but continued the physical play one could expect from a CCHA playoff game. Notably, graduate forward and co-captain Ethan Scardina, sophomore defenseman Gustav Stjernberg, sophomore forward Ben Doran and freshman forward Adam Zlnka all laid multiple bone crushing hits throughout the game.
Along with physicality, shot blocking is an important aspect of winning hockey games that becomes particularly important during playoff hockey. Both Grant and Stjernberg recorded multiple blocked shots throughout the contest to add on to their other contributions.
Early in the third period, Michigan Tech would take advantage of a poor line change by the Falcons and junior forward Stiven Sardarian buried an opportunity despite a diving effort by Christian Stoever.
“It was a bad line change,” said Williams. “It was terrible, it can’t happen.”
The score would remain tied for the remainder of the third period, sending the teams to overtime.
Both teams created multiple dangerous scoring chances, but in the end, the Falcons would emerge victorious after a stretch past from Eric Parker set up a two-on-one rush for the Falcons. Doran made a saucer pass over a laid-out Michigan Tech defender to junior forward Quinn Emerson who buried the chance to secure the victory for the Falcons. Parker and Doran were rewarded with assists on the play.
Last season, the Orange and Brown’s season came to an end due to being swept by the Huskies in the first round of the Mason Cup playoffs. BG now has an opportunity to secure a sweep of their own and end their conference rival’s season early.
“We have the bad blood from last year. It’s a little bitter and sour to lose in the first round so this is (a) redemption round for us,” said Grant.
Stoever played a key role in the contest, making multiple game saving stops throughout the course of the game. Stoever ended the night with 20 saves and a .952 save percentage.
On the other side of the ice, Ryan Manzella made 29 saves and finished the game with a .935 save percentage.
While the win in game one puts Bowling Green in a great spot for the rest of the weekend and sets them up for the possibility of securing a sweep, coach Williams made it clear that the work is long from over.
“We gotta get back to work tomorrow,” said Williams. “We can be happy but we can’t be satisfied, there’s a lot of hockey yet to be played this weekend and we gotta make sure we’re on our best foot moving forward.”
The Falcons will have the opportunity to sweep Michigan Tech and secure redemption from last year’s playoffs tonight at the Slater Family Ice Arena. Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak and Nathan Burkett will have the call starting at 6:45 on WBGU 88.1 FM.
