Bulldog Hockey Suffers 3-2 Setback Against Wildcats to Start Final Home Series

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. – In the game that started their final home series of the season, the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team suffered a 3-2 defeat against Northern Michigan Friday (Feb. 23) in the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

The Bulldogs (10-21-1) have just two regular season games remaining, with Saturday's (Feb. 24) contest against Northern Michigan being the final game they will play at home. 

Special teams were a huge story Friday, as the Wildcats converted two power play chances against the Bulldog penalty kill that has killed at a .900 rate since the Christmas break. The Bulldogs also went 0-4 on their power play tries, including a five-minute opportunity in the third period.

Jacob Dirks scored the first goal of the night at 1:58 in the first period. He controlled multiple rebound chances from just inside the right faceoff circles, firing two shots towards net. His second attempt beat Beni Halasz and gave the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead. Dirks' third of the season came from Emerson Goode and Zach Faremouth.

The Wildcats tied the game at 8:30 with their first power play goal of the night. Artem Shlaine scored his team-leading 10th of the season, while Andre Ghantous collected his CCHA-leading 19th assist. Kristof Papp also had a helper.

Grant Slukynsky scored at 5:16 in the second period, also on the power play. Michael Van Unen and Matvei Kabanov assisted as the Wildcats converted their first two power play opportunities of the night and took a 2-1 lead.

Kabanov extended NMU's lead to 3-1 at 14:13 with his fourth goal of the year. Josh Zinger and Ghantous assisted.

Jack Perbix took a game misconduct penalty for hitting from behind at 6:15 in the third period, sending the Bulldogs to a five-minute power play chance. However, FSU was unable to convert, and they went into the final half of the third period down by two goals.

Luigi Benincasa cut that deficit in half at 18:50 with the extra attacker on. He fired a shot from the left-wing wall that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net. Dirks shielded Halasz, and Benincasa tallied his sixth goal of the season. Goode recorded his second helper of the night, while Travis Shoudy collected his team-leading 17th assist of the year. 

With 14 seconds remaining in regulation, Halasz was called for a major penalty after headbutting Jason Brancheau. That forced Charlie Glockner into the game and put the Bulldogs on the power play with a six-on-four man advantage. They were unable to win the offensive zone draw, allowing the Wildcats to clear the puck to center and seal their 3-2 victory.

For the game, Logan Stein made 16 saves on 19 shots faced. Halasz turned away 21 of the 23 shots from Ferris State. Northern Michigan was 2-3 on power play tries and Ferris State was 0-4. The Bulldogs went 27-21 on the faceoff circle while attempting 23 shots compared to 19 for NMU. 

Ghantous and Goode each had two assists. Kabanov also had multiple points with a goal and a helper.

The Bulldogs will be back in action Saturday (Feb. 24) to face the Wildcats on senior night. A total of 11 Bulldogs will be recognized in a pregame ceremony and fans are encouraged to arrive by 4:30 p.m. (ET) and to also join the Bulldogs in Jim Wink Arena following the conclusion of the game for a special postgame ceremony. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. (ET).