Coming into the final regular season series, one team is looking to secure home ice and the other is trying just trying to get into the playoffs. It was the team looking for home ice that came out on top tonight, as the Bowling Green Falcons came away with a 7-0 victory over Alabama Huntsville. The Falcons were led by Kevin Dufour’s four points, including a hat trick. With Ferris State winning, the Falcons are still a win away from getting that home ice next weekend.
Dufour started the scoring at 9:37 of the first period, creating a chance off of a won faceoff and beating a Charger to the puck. He buried it for a 1-0 Falcons lead.
“We won a draw to their side and I used my speed to create a breakaway and I beat him five-hole,” explained Dufour.
Dufour wasn’t done in the first, however, as he deked around his defender and put a backhander behind goaltender Carmine Guerriero.
“We want to play at home next weekend, so we know that we have to take care of business this weekend,” said Dufour.
Bowling Green made it 3-0 on a power play early in the second period when a Mark Friedman shot was tipped in by Mitch McLain. The biggest moments in the game would follow though, as the Falcons were already killing a five-minute major and then received a minor with still over two minutes left on the major.
“Special teams were the biggest key tonight; we killed off a five-on-three for a full two minutes I believe,” said Falcons coach Chris Bergeron. “The play of Chris Nell got us through the five-on-three; he was huge.”
Nell made seven saves during that five-on-three, and 33 saves for the shutout.
The third period saw Bowling Green score four goals to make the final 7-0. Scoring for the Falcons in the third were Adam Smith at 5:14 on a power play. Dufour would score his hat trick goal also on a power play just a minute later. Bowling Green added two goals in the last two minutes; Frédéric Létourneau scored at 18:52 and defenseman Alec Rauhauser scored at 19:29 to end the scoring.
“I thought our effort was good; we respected our opponent tonight,” said Bergeron. “That’s a good team, especially through the neutral zone and off the rush. I don’t think we handled it great but that’s credit to them. Overall, we were opportunistic around the net, which we have struggled with at times this year.”
WCHA roundup
Bemidji State 2, Minnesota State 1
The Beavers got goals from Jordan Heller and Gerry Fitzgerald (the game-winner) and 24 saves from Michael Bitzer to defeat the Mavericks, 2-1. Scoring the lone Mavericks goal was Marc Michaelis in the second period. Cole Huggins made 25 saves for Minnesota State.
Ferris State 6, at Lake Superior 4
The Bulldogs kept hope alive for a fourth-place finish and home ice next weekend with a 6-4 victory over the Lakers on the road. Leading the way for the Bulldogs were Chad McDonald with two goals and one assist, while Craig Pefley had one goal and three assists. Ferris State scored four goals in the third period to take the victory home. For the Lakers, Gage Torrel had two goals.
Michigan Tech 3, at Northern Michigan 2
After trailing 1-0, Michigan Tech scored three straight goals over the first and second periods to take a 3-1 lead and went on the win 3-2. Three different Huskies scored goals and eight different Huskies scored a point in the victory. Mitch Reinke led the scoring attack with two assists. Ryan Black and Robbie Payne scored for the Wildcats.
Alaska 4, at Alaska-Anchorage 3
Troy Van Tetering’s goal at 13:34 of the third period was the game-winner as Alaska edged Alaska-Anchorage in a Governor’s Cup game. Mason Mitchell helped Anchorage rally twice with two goals, scoring at 18:58 of the first to tie it at two after the Seawolves fell into a 2-0 hole, and again 23 seconds into the second period to tie it 3-3 after Austin Vieth gave Alaska a 3-2 lead at 19:36 of the third. Jesse Jenks made 17 saves in the win.
