Bowling Green Takes Game 1 in WCHA Playoff Series

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• Game Highlights Video
• Coach Pearson Postgame Interview

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Bowling Green State earned a 2-1 win over Michigan Tech in tonight's opening game of a best-of-three WCHA First Round Playoff at BGSU Ice Arena. The Falcons took a 2-1 lead after 12 minutes of play and held on through the rest of the game including 1:25 of extra attacker at the end.

"It's disappointing, but one game does not win a series," said Tech coach Mel Pearson. "There's not much to choose between the teams. We created some good scoring chances and didn't finish them tonight.

"Credit Bowling Green. They're a tested playoff team and they defended their home ice."

Period one was an up-and-down affair. Both teams took advantage of power-play chances in the first half of the frame.

Bryce Williamson walked in from the blue line off a faceoff win and wristed a shot over Pheonix Copley's shoulder 5:55 into the action.

David Johnstone answered with a one-timer on the man advantage at the 10:12 mark. The junior scored his fifth power-play goal of the year from his patented spot on the left circle, beating Tommy Burke over his stick-side shoulder. Shane Hanna and Alex Petan each picked up assists on the marker.

Tanner Kero had a grade A chance 90 seconds later that went just wide.

BGSU transitioned down the ice and scored when Ryan Carpenter put home a rebound of Matt Pohlkamp's initial shot.

Tech finished the period with a 12-7 advantage in shots on goal.

The second period featured more defensive play. The Huskies killed off a penalty midway through the frame. The Falcons had a 9-6 edge in shots in the stanza, but four of them came on the man advantage.

BGSU (17-14-7) killed off a Tech power play in the third period and withstood a late barrage by the Huskies with the extra attacker on the ice for the final 1:25.

Johnstone nearly tied the game with another shot from the left circle in the final 30 seconds.

Tech (14-18-7) finished with a 25-24 advantage in shots on goal. Both teams were 1-for-2 on the power play.

Burke notched 24 saves for the Falcons while Copley had 22.

The two teams, which have now evenly split the five games between them this season at 2-2-1 apiece, will meet again tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m.