Game Thread: #21 Bowling Green vs. #9 Notre Dame

[BGDrew]

#21 Bowling Green vs. #9 Notre Dame

vs.


Ticket Information:
Friday: Notre Dame
Saturday: Bowling Green

Last Week
The Falcons picked up their 3rd sweep of the year, and their 2nd over struggling Western Michigan.
1/18: 4-1 W
1/19: 2-1 OT W

The Irish struggled against the Michigan Wolverines getting swept at the Yost Ice Arena and Palace of Auburn Hills.
1/18: 3-2 L
1/19: 5-1 L


The Series
The Falcons and Irish have met 81 times, including two Irish wins this year. The Irish are 41-34-6 all-time against the Falcons.


Game 1
1/25/2008: 7:05pm Bowling Green vs. Notre Dame (Joyce Center)
TV: Comcast Local
Play-by-Play: Jeff Jeffers
Color Commentary: Lyle Phair

Radio: 88.1 WBGU
Play-by-Play: Danny Nieves
Color Commentary: Brian Fisher
Pre-game will start 1/2 hour before game time. Webcast available at BGSUFalcons.com.

Game 2
1/26/2008: 7:35pm Notre Dame 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: Brian Fisher
Pre-game will start 1/2 hour before game time. Webcast available at BGSUFalcons.com.


Media Notes
Bowling Green: http://bgsufalcons.cstv.com/sports/m-ho ... 08aab.html
Notre Dame: http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/spe ... 08aac.html
USCHO.com: To be released Thursday.
CCHA.com: http://ccha.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/sp ... 08aab.html


Around the CCHA
Friday
Ohio State at Lake Superior
7:05 p.m. ET

Miami at Alaska
7:05 p.m. AT

Bowling Green at Notre Dame
7:35 p.m. ET

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

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

Saturday
Notre Dame at Bowling Green
7:05 p.m. ET

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

Ohio State at Lake Superior
7:05 p.m. ET

Miami at Alaska
7:05 p.m. AT

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

USA Under-18 Team at Northern Michigan
7:35 p.m. ET


(Image courtesy of CCHA.com)


National Rankings
Courtesy of USCHO.com

[redhawkforlife]

This will be a good test for both teams. Bowling Green just played the two worst teams in the conference back to back and Notre Dame is coming off of a humbling whuppin by Michigoon.

Both teams need to make a statement. With a sweep, BG could crawl within one of ND and still have 2 games in hand. Although, you would split the season series. Didn't BG have weird one and done weekends against ND?

Miami travels to Alaska. Pretty sure no team likes to go there. And after feasting on a terrible LSSU team, I only expect a split for Miami.

Michigan has the chance to knock Sparty down a few rungs just like ND. I can only hope that Miami keeps pace and there is a split in southeast Michigan.

Bowling Green also sees UNO being idle. UNO has played 20 games thus far in conference. BG can shoot by them with 2 games in hand.

No doubt, statement weekend for the Falcons. Could be knocking on 4th place real quick if ND can't regroup.

[MACMAN]

Redskin your thoughts are on the same track as mine with what seems to be out there..every year this time one of the top 4 in conference stumble...how long and how far they fall varies....Bg could if ND is unsteady take the sweep...starting in ND will only serve to help shore up the Irish and if not look for the sweep. BG will have to find that perfect game this Friday, scoring first, an aggressive forecheck for all three periods and some stout D and steady and true goaltending...the key to the game is perfection to get the away win and leave nothing on the ice....the home rink will energize our team to get the sweep the second night

[bgsufalcon24]

Like our redhawk friend said, this series is HUGE. A sweep, and you could make a case for us finishing in the top 4 of the CCHA and getting a first round bye. For that to be a possibility, we need either a sweep, or at the very least a split. Getting swept would knock us clean out of any chance of a bye.

I want to forecast a sweep, but the fact of the matter is we just can't beat Notre Dame. They've owned us every time we've played them since I've been at BG. So I'll throttle back a bit and say each team wins on home ice for a split.

[Falconfreak90]

GO HOCKEY....BIG weekend vs the Irish.

[PegCityFalcon]

Well after Brad Phillips played his was out of the lineup it looks like we will see Jordan Pearce both games.

[bgbill]

http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pb ... 001/Sports

pretty cool (pun slightly intended)

[MACMAN]

seems to me they are looking past us and each of their final games. if he doesnt think we play as well as MSu that is a mistake, and I hope ND has lots of fun drinking coffe...who knows maybe wont need to give them a wake up call, but well give them a better hockey game than they are clearly expecting.

[redhawk95]

Like our redhawk friend said, this series is HUGE. A sweep, and you could make a case for us finishing in the top 4 of the CCHA and getting a first round bye. For that to be a possibility, we need either a sweep, or at the very least a split. Getting swept would knock us clean out of any chance of a bye.

I want to forecast a sweep, but the fact of the matter is we just can't beat Notre Dame. They've owned us every time we've played them since I've been at BG. So I'll throttle back a bit and say each team wins on home ice for a split.

one of the biggest series for bg in years! a top 4 finish would be in the crosshairs with a 3 or 4 point weekend. and, you are catching notre dame at a great point in time. they're playing their worst hockey of the year, no doubt.

[BGDrew]

Update:
- Corrected the play-by-play host for Comcast Local
- Added the media notes for both BG and ND

Interesting note:
I just guessed on the Comcast Local play-by-play man (Ben Holden). The name released by Notre Dame is Jeff Jeffers. BG has the name incorrectly listed as Holden, so does that mean they got some of their info from me?

I'm available for hire Mr. Christopher.

[TG1996]

I tried to vote for "we win by 48 points", but it wasn't on the menu. I settled for taking 2 points out of the weekend, though as has been mentioned, ND is ripe for the taking, esp. with a win Friday.

[Freddie]

I refuse to participate in any thread that refers to us as #21.
There's no such freakin thing as #21.
The rankings only go to 20...PERIOD.
Below #20 is nothing more than "other teams receiving votes."

I understand the desire of the marketing people to pump up interest in the game, and let's face it ..."come out Saturday to see your 'other team receiving votes BG Falsons' take on the 9th ranked Notre Dame Irish" dosen't exactly flow too smoothly.

Beat the Irish and we'll earn a spot!

[TG1996]

I refuse to participate in any thread that refers to us as #21.

Guess what? You just participated.

[BGDrew]

I refuse to participate in any thread that refers to us as #21.

What do you call posting in that thread?

[bgsufalcon24]

I refuse to participate in any thread that refers to us as #21.

Guess what? You just participated.

Freddie, what you need to do is instead of complaining, come out to the game Saturday night and watch Bowling Green kick Notre Dame's azz. Then we won't have to worry about whether we're truly in the rankings or not.