Game Thread: #18 Bowling Green vs. #3 Michigan

[BGDrew]

#18 Bowling Green vs. #3 Michigan

vs.

Ticket Information:
Bowling Green: Buy Tickets
Michigan: Buy Tickets


The Series
This weekend will be the 105th and 106th meeting between the Wolverines and Falcons. Michigan owns a 69-32-3 lead in the series. Last season the 2 split their games with the Wolverines winning 1/9/07 at Michigan 5-0 and the Falcons beating the Wolverines in a thriller at BGSU on 2/9/07, 3-2.


Last Week
In a home-and-home series against Wayne State the Falcons picked up a sweep.
11/30: 3-1 W
12/1: 6-1 W

The Wolverines hosted Ohio State and split with the Buckeyes.
11/30: 2-3 L
12/1: 4-2 W


Game 1
12/7/2007: 7:05pm Michigan vs. Bowling Green (BGSU Ice Arena)
TV: BCSN
Play-by-Play: Greg Franke
Color Commentary: Buddy Powers

Radio: 88.1 WBGU
Play-by-Play: Danny Nieves
Color Commentary: Bob Mills
Pre-game will start 1/2 hour before game time. Webcast available at http://www.bgrso.org or BGSUFalcons.com.

Game 2
12/8/2007: 7:35pm BGSU vs. Michigan (Yost Ice Arena)
Radio: 88.1 WBGU
Play-by-Play: Danny Nieves
Color Commentary: Bob Mills
Pre-game will start 1/2 hour before game time. Webcast available at http://www.bgrso.org or BGSUFalcons.com

Live Video Webcast: A live video feed will be available on http://www.mgoblue.com.


Media Notes
Bowling Green: http://bgsufalcons.cstv.com/sports/m-ho ... 07aaa.html.
Michigan: http://www.mgoblue.com/uploadedFiles/Sp ... 120407.pdf
USCHO.com: To be released.
CCHA.com: http://ccha.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/sp ... 07aai.html


Around the CCHA
Friday
Michigan at Bowling Green
7:05 p.m. ET

Michigan State at Ferris State
7:05 p.m. ET

Lake Superior at Nebraska-Omaha
7:05 p.m. CT

Alaska at Miami
7:35 p.m. ET

Notre Dame at Princeton
7:00 p.m. ET

St. Lawrence at Ohio State
7:05 p.m. ET

Wayne State at Western Michigan
7:35 p.m. ET

Saturday
Ferris State at Michigan State
7:05 p.m. ET

Lake Superior at Nebraska-Omaha
7:05 p.m. CT

Alaska at Miami
7:05 p.m. ET

Bowling Green at Michigan
7:35 p.m. ET

Notre Dame at Princeton
7:00 p.m. ET

St. Lawrence at Ohio State
7:05 p.m. ET

Wayne State at Western Michigan
7:35 p.m. ET



(Image courtesy of CCHA.com)


National Rankings
Courtesy of USCHO.com

[BGDrew]

Anybody else going to be making the trip up to Yost on Saturday?

[TG1996]

Game 1
11/30/2007: 7:05pm Michigan vs. Bowling Green (BGSU Ice Arena)
TV: BCSN
Play-by-Play: Greg Franke
Color Commentary: Buddy Powers
...
Game 2
12/1/2007: 7:35pm BGSU vs. Michigan (Yost Ice Arena)
Radio: 88.1 WBGU
Play-by-Play: Danny Nieves
Color Commentary: Bob Mills

Crap. It looks like we missed the games.

[BGDrew]

Game 1
11/30/2007: 7:05pm Michigan vs. Bowling Green (BGSU Ice Arena)
TV: BCSN
Play-by-Play: Greg Franke
Color Commentary: Buddy Powers
...
Game 2
12/1/2007: 7:35pm BGSU vs. Michigan (Yost Ice Arena)
Radio: 88.1 WBGU
Play-by-Play: Danny Nieves
Color Commentary: Bob Mills

Crap. It looks like we missed the games.

You just weren't invited.


Jerk.

[VDub26Falcon]

I really think that the Falcons CAN win both of these games, but something tells me they will only win the home game. I just think playing at the #3 team in the nation is a tough task, especially with those stupid cowbells.

However, I think that if BG gets a convincing win, say 4-1 or 3-0, I could see them carrying that over to Saturday night and shocking the scUM. From what little I have seen, it looks like scUM is REALLY fast and pretty good at keeping the penalties to a minimum which is definitely a key towards winning.

BG will have to limit their penalty minutes and play the best defense of their lives as well as keeping the goalie from getting pelted too much. That brings me to the question of who do you think will start at goal in these two games? Statistically, Eno is having a better year, sporting a 5-1 record with a 2.16 GAA while Spratt is 3-3 with a 2.50 GAA. I noticed that during the home and home with Wayne State, Jimmy started game one while Nick played game two...will that be the norm for the rest of the year?

Sorry for the over analyzation of the game but it's definitely an important series and I think the Falcons CAN sweep it but will most likely go with a split.

[pdt1081]

BG will have to limit their penalty minutes and play the best defense of their lives as well as keeping the goalie from getting pelted too much. That brings me to the question of who do you think will start at goal in these two games? Statistically, Eno is having a better year, sporting a 5-1 record with a 2.16 GAA while Spratt is 3-3 with a 2.50 GAA. I noticed that during the home and home with Wayne State, Jimmy started game one while Nick played game two...will that be the norm for the rest of the year?

Sorry for the over analyzation of the game but it's definitely an important series and I think the Falcons CAN sweep it but will most likely go with a split.

That seems to be the trend so far this year. Spratt Friday and Eno on Saturday. Watching our games, our biggest weakness is our TEAM defense. That is where we seem to be lacking the most. Both goaltenders are solid, but not "stand on their head and steal a game" good. Limiting scUM's chances is what will win these games. If we don't do that, it could be a couple of long nights.

For some reason, I can see the lines being juggled. The big line of Tiesling, Geelan, and Dee/Kantola could be split up to give each line some size, but I don't see that helping us much. The smaller guys have the speed and are getting better every week at playing against larger guys. Leave the big guys together and send them out to knock some bodies around and gain some momentum for the rest of the team. They can take control of the physical aspect of these games and I'm sure there are some smaller guys who will surprise with some big hits of their own.

[PegCityFalcon]

I want to see how our checking line handles Kevin Porter. I've never been impressed with Billy Sauer and I think if we get alot of shots on him we have a chance to prevail. I don't remember the last time I had good expectations when we play scUM. We seem to win when I think well lose hopefully it continues.

Game 1- Michgan 4-3
Game 2- Michigan 2-1

[MACMAN]

MI is number 3 in the country for a reason, they are just dam good.
My gut says we can get the split, and that i we will likely win at MI, are guys are just tough away. we could well then ride that wave and get the sweep at home and that would be something, really something. But I just think we get the split both teams win away.


*Sorry about this I was doing some other things as I wrote...but what I wanted to say was that in a nut shell with our guys playing so strong on the away games, that if we win on Friday night at home we have a great shot for a sweep, other wise it likely be a split of away wins.

[rc_ziggy84]

MI is number 3 in the country for a reason, they are just dam good.
My gut says we can get the split, and that i we will likely win at MI, are guys are just tough away. we could well then ride that wave and get the sweep at home and that would be something, really something. But I just think we get the split both teams win away.

Problem... we play at home friday and then go up there on saturday. I can see us winning at home, but these guys are darn hard to play on the road. The only way there's a split is if both teams win at home, which is what I predict. In past years UM has been a beatable team on the road, and a beatable team on Saturday. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

GO FALCONS!

[McConvey]

The reason they're #3 in the country is because they dropped from #2 after being beat at Yost by a dreadful Ohio State team.

So the Wolverines are quite beatable at home. But it will take a great game with no mistakes. Scoring early to take the crowd out of it would help as well.

[heyman]

Hodgson will shut down Porter so expect to see him out every time Porter's on the ice. Goaltending is the key and ours still aren't good enough, so expect to see us blocking lots of shots per usual. IF the young ones can score, BG will win both games. My 2 cents only.

[PegCityFalcon]

Hodge can't blanket Porter. We honestly don't have a single player that can stop him. A trap would work. Kyle Page is the closest defenceman we have to a shut down defender

[MACMAN]

Hodgson will shut down Porter so expect to see him out every time Porter's on the ice. Goaltending is the key and ours still aren't good enough, so expect to see us blocking lots of shots per usual. IF the young ones can score, BG will win both games. My 2 cents only.

Our netminders are dam good, and of little issue, and yea goaltending is key to every game, but more important yet is not turning over the puck stupidly in the zone, or neutral zone allowing for the odd man rush and giving up the backdoor.
As long as this team plays aggressively and over come the 2nd period blues we seem to have we will be in great shape.

[BG84]

I'm thinking UM sweep. BG is capable of beating Michigan but won't.

Actually, I don't know enough about hockey or the teams to be so specfiic. We'll win a couple of games against the top teams in the league. BG played ND twice and lost. We have two more with ND and two each with Miami, UM, and MSU. Those are the top teams in the league, and I think BG will win a couple of those games. BG will also lose a couple that should be won, but that's the way it goes. It's shaping up to be a fun season.

[PegCityFalcon]

how insightful BG84. What's next two teams will play...one will win, one will also lose.