Bulldogs Shutout Falcons In 4-0 Decision
Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally 10th-ranked Ferris State University men's ice hockey team shutout the Bowling Green Falcons in a 4-0 victory on Friday (Nov. 4) evening. The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) game marked the opening contest of a two-game series played at the BGSU Ice Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio.
With the victory ,the Bulldogs improve to a 7-2-0 overall record and a 3-2-0 CCHA record. The Falcons dropped to 4-4-1 overall and 1-4-0 in conference play.
Sophomore left wing Garrett Thompson (Traverse City) opened up the Bulldog scoring, as a pass from senior defender Derek Graham (LaGrange, Ill.) set up a two-on-one situation heading into the BGSU zone. Thompson attempted to pass the puck across the ice to Johnston, but the puck found the skate of a Bowling Green defender's skate, which sent it to the back of the net. Senior goaltender Taylor Nelson (Regina, Saskatchewan) also registered an assist on the play.
With 1:59 remaining in the second period, junior forward Eric Alexander (Kentwood) made the score 2-0 in favor of FSU as he sailed one over the BGSU goaltenders' pad off a loose puck from the offensive zone faceoff. The helper went to Travis Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario).
Then, at the 9:47 mark of the third period, Bulldog junior forward Matthew Kirzinger (Leroy, Saskatchewan) posted his first goal of the season with assists going to senior forward Jordie Johnston (Rosetown, Saskatchewan) and Thompson.
Senior defender Brett Wysopal (LeGrange Park, Ill.) finished off the offensive kill with his first goal of the season at the 15:30 mark of the third period. Thompson recorded his third point of the game, as he notched the first assist, and Johnston earned his second point of the game on the second assist.
Wysopal, Graham, Kirzinger and Johnston all finished the night with a +3 rating.
The shutout marked Nelson's second of the season in net. He totaled 29 saves, with 25 coming in the first and second periods combined. With the win, his record improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in conference action. The loss went to BGSU goaltender Andrew Hammond, who stopped 25 of the Bulldogs' 29 shots on goal.
The physical game saw eight penalties for the Bulldogs totaling 27 penalty minutes. The Falcons had seven penalties and spent 14 minutes in the box.
Ferris State will look for the series sweep on Saturday night (Nov. 5) as the two teams will faceoff again at 7:05 p.m. (EDT) at the BGSU Ice Arena.
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