By Ben Shanahan
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
Northern Michigan University shut out Bowling Green State University, 2-0, at Slater Family Ice Arena to force a weekend series split.
Beni Halaz shined as the net minder for the Wildcats, saving all 30 of the Falcons’ shots on net.
“Got to give credit to Northern Michigan. You knew it was going to be tough,” BGSU coach Ty Eigner said. “A sweep is not easy, and I thought their goaltender played well.
“It is college hockey. Bounce here or there, take advantage of situations, or not take advantage of situations, but all in all, I think our kids kept playing, and in the third, we unfortunately could not get one past Halaz. I thought he played well.”
BGSU falls to 4-10 overall and 2-4 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association while Northern Michigan improves to 6-7-1 and 4-4.
Another big bright spot for Northern was their special teams, which scored both goals, and the Wildcats’ penalty kill unit, which was relentless.
On the first penalty kill and the second on the 5-on-3, NMU’s special teams were a perfect 3-for-3, killing off every penalty, and even scoring a shorthanded goal.
Defense prevailed in the first 20 minutes as the scoreboard remain empty, but the Falcons led in shots, 12-10.
Halasz and BGSU goaltender Cole Moore faced chances for their opponents to score but both both goalies went into intermission perfect.
Period two was all Northern Michigan, however. Just 44 seconds in, Northern captain Artem Shlaine was called a boarding minor.
Fortunately for the Wildcats, they still scored their second shorthanded goal in as many nights as BGSU sophomore Brett Pfoh lost the puck while attempting to break it out, giving NMU sophomore Connor Eddy a breakaway score with 18:40 left in the middle frame.
With 13:05 left, NMU forward and Anaheim Ducks prospect Jack Perbix headed to the box, committing a crosscheck.
Twenty-four seconds later, Northern defenseman Viking Gustaffson Nyberg joined him as he was called for boarding, putting the Falcons on a 5-on-3 advantage. BGSU power play struggles reared its ugly head once again, and the Wildcats burned both penalties off.
“Every time you get a power play, you want to score. That is the objective. It is tough, then they capitalize on it, so we will get to work on it this week and be better next week.” said BGSU player Ethan Scardina.
Northern Michigan went on a 5-on-3 of its own at the 8:25 mark as BGSU sophomore Quinn Emerson was called for roughing after the whistle with 9:03 left. Then Eric Parker joined Emerson after being called for a cross-check.
As that 5-on-3 was expiring, graduate senior Andre Ghantous found senior Mikey Collela with a cross-crease pass, who scored the Wildcats’ power play goal, making it 2-0 with 7:05 left in the second.
The Wildcats stood strong in the third to close things out. Bowling Green went perfect in the period on the penalty kill, first killing off junior Owen Ozar’s interference call with 16:43 remaining, then Brett Pfoh was called for holding, putting the game on ice with 3:01 left.
