Bowling Green, OH – A pair of streaks came to an end Friday, as the eighth-ranked Falcons stopped a two-game slide while halting the 18th-ranked Michigan Tech Huskies seven-game unbeaten streak in a 6-3 contest.
Mark Sinclair started in net for the Huskies, stopping just three shots on six attempts before being replaced by Blake Pietila. He stopped 18 of 20 shots faced in relief.
Eric Dop stopped 25 of 28 chances for the Falcons.
First Period
The Falcons opened the game’s scoring just 1:37 into the opening period. Gavin Gould started a two-on-rush before sending the puck to Justin Wells in the slot. Wells went to his backhand, sliding his shot past Sinclair for his second goal of the season.
Bowling Green extended their lead to 2-0 at 4:13 of the first period. Will Cullen wristed a shot on net from the point. His attempt appeared to deflect off a Husky defender and slide under Sinclair’s pads.
The Huskies struck back at 4:58 when Alec Broetzman re-directed a shot Eric Gotz to cut the Falcons’ lead to 2-1.
A power-play goal would once again give BG a two-goal lead at 9:56. Brandon Kruse clapped home a one-timer on a pass by Connor Ford for Kruse’s tenth goal of the season.
Bowling Green outshot Michigan Tech 10-6 in the first period.
Second Period
The Falcons extended their lead to 4-1 at 15:06 of the middle frame. Carson Musser’s initial shot on net was saved, but he followed-up his rebound with a backhand to score his first goal of the season. Kruse assisted on the play.
The Huskies cut the Falcons’ lead to 4-2 on the power play. Trenton Bliss poked home a shot on a net-front scramble to draw Michigan Tech within two goals.
Michigan Tech outshot Bowling Green 14-12 in the second period.
Third Period
Bowling Green once again took a two-goal lead at 3:59 of the third period. Skating on a four-on-three power play, Tim Theocharidis fed a pass to Connor Ford who buried his chance. The goal was Ford’s eighth of the season.
Ford would score again, this time an empty-net goal at 17:51 to seal the 6-3 win for the Falcons.
The Huskies outshot the Falcons 8-5 in the final period.
With the win, Bowling Green improves to 15-4-0, 4-1-0-1. Michigan Tech falls to 8-4-1, 2-1-0-0.
The teams will conclude their weekend series Saturday at 7:07 PM.
