Huskies shutout BGSU in Game 1 of CCHA Playoffs
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bowling Green (13-22-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Michigan Tech (16-14-6) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech hockey team opened the 2024 CCHA Playoffs with a commanding 5-0 shutout of Bowling Green on Friday at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The third-seeded Huskies scored one in the first, two in each of the last two periods, and Blake Pietila earned his fourth shutout of the season and 24th of his career.
"Guys are gaining confidence every day and every week," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "Logan has been really leading us. His compete level has been off the charts and as the center on the line he gets them going. Blake made the saves when he had to—especially when the game was still tight.
"Full credit to our players for the performance tonight. Now we need to turn the page to tomorrow. It's always hard to end a team's season. Bowling Green played hard and will be ready to bounce back tomorrow."
Logan Pietila scored the game-winner in the first period for the second game in a row. He tried to chip the puck over to Isaac Gordon but the puck deflected off the goaltender and in for his 11th of the season and 43rd of his career 11:44 into the game. Gordon and Ryland Mosley assisted on the play.
The roles reversed for the second goal of the night as Isaac Gordon blasted in a one-timer from Logan Pietila 10:14 into the second. Trevor Russell also assisted on Gordon's team-leading 17th of the season.
Henry Bartle made it 3-0 2:55 later with his first collegiate goal. Alex Nordstrom dumped the puck into the zone, and Blais Richartz made a play to the front. Bartle found himself wide open and flipped it over the goalie.
"It was a lucky bounce, but when your line is doing all the little things right the hockey gods will give you a little bit of puck luck. It was a good feeling," said Bartle. "I'm just trying to work hard and stay in the lineup. I've changed my game up a little bit since juniors. I've been trying to play hard and be a spark for my teammates and stay positive on the bench."
Ryland Mosley took a long shot through traffic for his 15th goal of the season and 33rd of his career for a 4-0 lead 54 seconds into the third. Logan Pietila won the offensive zone faceoff, and Isaac Gordon flipped the puck back to the top of the zone.
"It's important in a three-game series to get the first win. The fourth period tomorrow is going to be the biggest one, and it's going to be fun to play in front of the crowd again," Mosley said.
Arvid Caderoth rounded out scoring 3:03 later when he finished off a pass at the side of the net from Max Koskipirtti. Jack Works also assisted on Caderoth's seventh of the season and 15th of his career.
Blake Pietila made six saves in the first, one in the second, and 14 in the third for his 15th win of the season and 73rd of his career. He has three shutouts in the last five games. It was his second shutout against BGSU this season and the third over the Falcons in his career.
Cole Moore stopped 39 shots for the Falcons.
Both teams were 0-for-3 on the power play.
Tech improved to 16-14-6 overall and BGSU is now 13-21-1.
Game 2 is scheduled for a 6:07 p.m. faceoff on Saturday. It will be the sixth meeting of the season between the two teams.
