Falling down 2-0 after the first period was a reminder of last night’s slow start that cost Bulldog hockey (7-15-2, 6-10 in CCHA) a win against Bowling Green (12-8-3, 8-5-3 in CCHA). However, four unanswered goals changed Ferris’ fortune and snapped the Falcons’ seven-game win streak over the Bulldogs and the team’s five-game string of losses.
A late second-period momentum swing, which came in the form of killing a five-minute major, helped negate a season sweep by Bowling Green.
For head coach Bob Daniels, the difference between last night’s loss and tonight’s win was born from the team’s mental sharpness.
“Yesterday we were emotionally and physically invested in the game, but maybe at times, not as mentally invested,” Daniels said. “That showed up on a couple of penalties that we took and a few of the turnovers that you asked about yesterday. Today I felt like we were mentally, emotionally and physically invested. We had the mental part.”
Entering the game, Daniels also stated that the “mantra” was to “not fall behind early.”
Slow starts and early deficits have hurt the Bulldogs in the opening frame this season. Over 24 games, the Bulldogs have been outscored 32-15 in the first period and post a 2-11-1 record when their opponents score first.
The comeback was furthered by killing off a five-minute major in the middle stanza. Following the kill and the game sitting at 2-1, the Bulldogs scored three more goals, including junior forward Gavin Best’s game-tying tally.
“[To] score to end a period like that is big for morale going into the break,” Best said. “I thought that was good and kind of a big momentum swinger going into the next period.”
The Bulldogs suffered their disadvantageous first period after a pair of Bowling Green goals were scored 1:54 apart. This start echoes last night’s 4-3 loss, which had Ferris down 3-0 by the end of the opening frame.
Also similar to last night, the Bulldogs used the second period to get back in the game. Freshman defenseman Kade Turner buried his first collegiate goal to cut the lead in half. Despite a five-minute major and then an ensuing Ferris’ power play expiring in the last minute of the period, junior forward Gavin Best netted the game-tying goal.
With a freshly-tied game, the Bulldogs quickly tightened their grip on the momentum. Two goals, scored by senior forward Nick Nardecchia and junior forward Tyler Schleppe, came in 1:48 and morphed a 2-2 game into a 4-2 contest. Another Falcons goal found the back of the net to make it 4-3, but time ran out on a potential Bowling Green equalizer.
Ferris will be back at home next weekend for a tough series against the No. 12 Minnesota State Mavericks. The series is set to begin on Friday, Jan. 24 at 7:07 p.m.