CCHA QUARTERFINALS: @ Michigan Tech (3/6-8)

[mbenecke]

The postseason has arrived, and there's only one thing left to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-hDl6OALv4

Our Falcons (18-9-7, 19th NPI) are going to boomerang right back to the UP this weekend as they take on the Michigan Tech Huskies (21-12-3, 22nd NPI) in a CCHA quarterfinal series. Both teams finished with 49 points in the CCHA standings and only 2 points behind the McNaughton Cup champions, but this is officially the 4 vs. 5 matchup in the bracket. Due to the CCHA’s nonsensical tiebreaker procedures, we will be on the road for this series. I hate to not be able to be hosting come playoff time, but I think that will create a sizable chip on ours guys’ shoulder - otherwise I would’ve been a bit anxious of Tech’s extra motivation for revenge here, after we swept them out of the playoffs last year, got their coach fired, and swept them again this past weekend.

Friday night’s Game 1 begins at 7:07pm, Saturday night’s Game 2 begins at 6:07pm, and then if necessary, Sunday’s Game 3 will begin at 5:07pm. All games will be available to stream through Midco.

Tech had a 6 game wins streak at the turn of the calendar to 2026 that included sweeping Minnesota State, but they are 4-4-1 since then, including losing to NMU, a draw with LSSU, and being swept by us. So, they seem to be a bit hot and cold coming into this one. This is a program that has a recent track record of success in the postseason, having won the Mason Cup as recently as 2024, so this will be a challenge for us, especially on the road. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if this is where our season ends, or if it takes all 3 games for a team to emerge from this series. I also wouldn’t be shocked to see this BG team go on a run here - we just played our best series of hockey in a while, and we’ve been getting pretty strong results since the holiday break. Hoping our young team is ready for this moment and continues to push our program trajectory upward.

NOTABLE STATS:

Goals Per Game: BG 3.00 (3rd), MTU 3.22 (2nd)
Goals Allowed Per Game: BG 2.35 (3rd), MTU 2.61 (4th)
Shots on Goal Per Game: BG 31.50 (2nd), MTU 29.03 (4th)
Power Play Percentage: BG .215 (2nd), MTU .210 (4th)
Penalty Kill Percentage: BG .826 (3rd), MTU .820 (4th)
Face-off Percentage: BG .548 (1st), MTU .494 (3rd)
Blocked Shots Per Game: BG 10.68 (9th), MTU 12.25 (6th)


GOALIE STATS:

MTU
Owen Bartoszkiewicz (Jr.) - 35 GP, 2.36 GAA, .917 SV%

BGSU
Jacob Steinman (Fr.) - 16 GP, 2.14 GAA, .921 SV%
Cole Moore (Jr.) - 13 GP, 2.40 GAA, .912 SV%
Tyler Palmer (Fr.) - 10 GP, 2.15 GAA, .910 SV%

Go Falcons! Beat Tech!

[jpfalcon09]

Tech in three. Beating a team four times in five games in their building is a tall order. BG has at least seemed to play better on the road this year, so perhaps it may end up being a benefit.

[mbenecke]

Coach Williams’ postseason presser:

https://youtu.be/-ucFgn4Xmxg?si=elSJoINtn0ePF63r

[pdt1081]

Coach Williams’ postseason presser:

https://youtu.be/-ucFgn4Xmxg?si=elSJoINtn0ePF63r

Might want to buckle up to listen to the Morning Show interview.
https://www.bgchamber.net/dennis-willia ... hockey-11/

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Coach Williams’ postseason presser:

https://youtu.be/-ucFgn4Xmxg?si=elSJoINtn0ePF63r

Might want to buckle up to listen to the Morning Show interview.
https://www.bgchamber.net/dennis-willia ... hockey-11/

I was also screaming at the TV to pull the goalie with 2 min left on Sat...

[Hockey John]

I have been quite impressed with Coach Williams and his staff. This program continues to make strong progress and I love that his focus in on us to play to our identity and be the best version of ourselves.

[mbenecke]

I have been quite impressed with Coach Williams and his staff. This program continues to make strong progress and I love that his focus in on us to play to our identity and be the best version of ourselves.

Definitely feels like the trajectory is pointed up for the program. We were right there at the top of the league this season. Even if it ends this weekend, I still think we’re going in the right direction. It just so happened that the top of the league this year decided to be as competitive as it has ever been, and someone has to lose - and most probably expect it to be us, since we drew the short stick and ended up on the road.

[unfalconbelievable]

Outside shot BG could get AT Large bid. Have to sweep and get to the final for sure. Get that far may not have to win the final.

On one of these threads someone mentioned how improved the league is. Only two teams that have a chance are Augustana, highest in NPI and whoever makes it to the final if thats who they face. Tech at 22 may have to win it to get in. League may be improved at the top but we could cannibalize ourselves and only send 1. Whoever it is will probably get Michigan or Western Michigan. Bentley will get Michigan State.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Prognosticators prognosticating.

https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/c ... irst-round

Edit - What's being said elsewhere:
o Can't beat a team 4 times straight
o Tech's ceiling is higher/better talent
o Travel is tough
o Muckalt is a better coach than Williams
o Likely a sweep

[mbenecke]

All anybody needs to know about those guys making picks, check out who they surveyed:

Tim Braun - Tech grad who writes for a Tech site
David Brown - Augustana play by play guy
Trent Singer - Augustana writer
Evan Gerry - NMU writer
Jared Rubando - Bemidji writer
Ryan Stieg - Covers hockey in the state of Minnesota

Love the diversity of thought here. Guys from Minnesota AND the UP! AND people from South Dakota!

Give me a break.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

All anybody needs to know about those guys making picks, check out who they surveyed:

Tim Braun - Tech grad who writes for a Tech site
David Brown - Augustana play by play guy
Trent Singer - Augustana writer
Evan Gerry - NMU writer
Jared Rubando - Bemidji writer
Ryan Stieg - Covers hockey in the state of Minnesota

Love the diversity of thought here. Guys from Minnesota AND the UP! AND people from South Dakota!

Give me a break.

Throw Harrison Watt, former Ferris PxP guy, into the mix. He’s a Tech sweep guy. Good news is if we lose it’s no big deal since we weren’t expected to win. Better news is if we win, then…

[pdt1081]

Hey look, the CCHA sent McInchak.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

We’ve scored three goals in the first. Two in our own goal.

[mbenecke]

2-2.

Kinda feels like BG is dominating and should win if we don’t make mistakes?

[mbenecke]

Brutal in net tonight. 7 saves on 10 shots. Trailing 3-2 late 2nd against a team we are dominating otherwise.