Huskies capitalize on numerous Bowling Green mistakes in 5-2 win at Ice Arena
2/1/2014BOWLING GREEN — There was little good to say about the Bowling Green State University hockey team’s performance Friday.
The Falcons struggled in every phase of the game in a 5-2 loss to Michigan Tech in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest at the BG Ice Arena.
“Full marks to Michigan Tech,” BG coach Chris Bergeron said. “They are one of the best teams in our league. …
“But we were poor. We stress that every play matters, and that was as poor as we have been with the puck.”
Michigan Tech posted a season-high five goals — in just two periods — as David Johnstone scored twice to lead the Huskies.
The Falcons (13-11-5 overall, 10-8-3 WCHA) failed to convert on some early scoring chances, and Michigan Tech (9-14-6, 7-8-4) got on the board thanks to a power-play goal by Johnstone at 12:08 of the first period.
From there the dam burst as the Huskies scored again less than two minutes later, then scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the second period to lead 4-0.
“That was terrible,” said Bowling Green defenseman Ralfs Freibergs. “Every time we made a mistake, it was a goal.”
Many of the Falcons mistakes came on turnovers, a number of which came in their defensive zone and led to quality scoring chances for the Huskies.
“We talked about not turning pucks over all week long,” Bergeron said. “[Watching this game] you would have thought the message was, ‘Turn pucks over and be loose with the puck.’ That’s the frustrating part of coaching. You say the things that you think are right, and you don’t execute.
“The blame starts with me, but it is all-encompassing.”
Bowling Green got on the board at 11:51 of the second on a goal by Brent Tate.
The Falcons were loose with the puck late in the second period and paid for it when Michigan Tech scored with 5.6 seconds left.
Freibergs scored on the power play at 18:13 of the third period to close the scoring in a game that saw the Falcons give up five goals for the second Friday in a row.
“There’s not a good feeling at all [in the lockerroom],” captain Ryan Carpenter said. “Everyone, including me, just didn’t have what it took.
“They out-worked us, and they got what they deserved.”
Bergeron agreed, adding, “I’m very disappointed. To play that poorly at home at this time of the year, there’s no excuse for that.
“We just weren’t right. Our top guys weren’t right, and it just went all the way down [the lineup].
“This was a poor effort. … We have to be a lot better.”
Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com, 419-724-6481 or on Twitter @jwagnerblade.