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Following a split at Ferris State last weekend, our Falcons (12-8-5) return home for a pivotal series with the Augustana Vikings (13-7-2). This series is hugely important for us to keep in the race for a top 2 seed in the CCHA, which would give us a home game in the CCHA semifinals (something that never even happened under Chris Bergeron or Ty Eigner) should we advance to that point. We are still in a push for home ice, and if the playoffs started right now, we would be the 4 seed by way of losing the tiebreaker to Michigan Tech. Friday night’s game starts a little later because of basketball, so it’s a 7:37pm puck drop. Saturday night’s contest will begin at the usual 7:07pm.

Notably, there will be a Slater Family Ice Arena replica giveaway (See here: https://x.com/BGSUHKY/status/1879640084682842395) for the first 750 fans in attendance at Friday night’s game, and Saturday’s game will have a “Star Wars Night” theme, so it’s a great weekend to get out to the rink and support the boys. Hoping for a pair of great crowds - I will be in town for Friday night’s game with family. Also of note: This is the first time Augustana has ever made the trip to Bowling Green in their program’s history.

So, on to the preview.


NOTABLE STATS:

-Augustana is pretty darn good. They score 2.82 goals per game while only giving up 1.91, both good for 2nd in the league.

-Their power play has had some struggles, and they only convert at a .167 clip, good for just 7th in the CCHA. Conversely, BG’s power play hits at a .210 rate, good for a much better 4th in the league.

-Their penalty kill is elite, sitting 1st in the CCHA by a decent margin at .873. Ours is only 5th in the league, at .787. That will be a big advantage for them this weekend.

-They also don’t get called for many penalties, as they are in the top 3 “most disciplined” teams in the CCHA, while BG gets called for the most penalties in the league by a decent margin.

-One spot where we should have an advantage this weekend is in the face-off circle, where we continue to lead the league at a .531 clip, while they are last in the league with a .448 rate.


GOALIE STATS:

Augustana
Josh Kotai (So.) - 19 GP, 1.68 GAA, .945 SV%

BGSU
Christian Stoever (Sr.) - 9 GP, 1.91 GAA, .944 SV%
Cole Moore (So.) - 15 GP, 2.98 GAA, .905 SV%


Go Falcons! Beat the Vikings!

The standings on CCHA.com are wrong again. They're wrong every week. We're currently in third 1 point ahead of Tech.

Edit: They're fixed now.

Folks this is going to an all out brawl this weekend. These guys just recently swept Colorado College and are 4-0-2 in their last 6. Both teams have 7 double digit scorers and their goalie has a .945 save percentage in 19 starts. A lot is going to ride on O'Hara & Waters putting the puck in the back of the net

Bgsu2016 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 2:12 pm Folks this is going to an all out brawl this weekend. These guys just recently swept Colorado College and are 4-0-2 in their last 6. Both teams have 7 double digit scorers and their goalie has a .945 save percentage in 19 starts. A lot is going to ride on O'Hara & Waters putting the puck in the back of the net

And it's essentially double points in the standings.

They’re also knocking on the door of an at large. Conspiracy theorists may question whether the league may try to influence the outcome this weekend. And Lucia LOVES these guys.

TalonsUpPuckDown wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 4:37 pm They’re also knocking on the door of an at large. Conspiracy theorists may question whether the league may try to influence the outcome this weekend. And Lucia LOVES these guys.

4.56 penalties per game vs 3.5 penalties per game. Should do an over/under on the difference for the weekend. I'll say BG will have 6 more penalties for the weekend.

Zeroes after the first.

0-0 after 2.

Championship-type period coming here. Big 3 points on the line.

OT loss boo

63 minutes without a goal. Offense can’t score against good teams.

mbenecke wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:03 pm 63 minutes without a goal. Offense can’t score against good teams.

Two Richter Award candidates in net, and they showed why.

pdt1081 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:16 pm

mbenecke wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:03 pm 63 minutes without a goal. Offense can’t score against good teams.

Two Richter Award candidates in net, and they showed why.

Definitely. I feel like we are very improved from the beginning of the year, to be able to play 63 scoreless minutes with the 2nd best team in the league.

Meanwhile Mankato gets shut out against Ferris…

That was our best 60 min stretch of the season. Damn fine game. Would have liked to have seen 3 out there on the 3x3 instead of 2. The refs called a good game.

TalonsUpPuckDown wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:43 pm That was our best 60 min stretch of the season. Damn fine game. Would have liked to have seen 3 out there on the 3x3 instead of 2. The refs called a good game.

I almost think Augustana wore on the refs quickly. They don't like being checked. And play like they don't know how to take a check. Need a bit more physicality tomorrow, as long as they can keep it as clean.

mbenecke wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:25 pm
Definitely. I feel like we are very improved from the beginning of the year, to be able to play 63 scoreless minutes with the 2nd best team in the league.

Meanwhile Mankato gets shut out against Ferris…

68 combined shots, one goal. I'd be real interested in knowing the "Grade A" numbers. Not a lot of shots felt dangerous, but a lot of that was just how solid both goaltenders played.