Just one day after Ferris State’s overtime shootout win against Northern Michigan, the Bulldogs (6-25-1, 5-18-1 in CCHA) shutout the Huskies (3-26-1, 3-18-1 in CCHA) 6-0 on Saturday, February 14.
This 6-0 win is the widest margin of victory on the season and the second shutout of the season. The widest margin of victory before today came only a week ago with a 6-3 win over Bemidji State.
Ferris State won the opening faceoff with their all-senior line before the puck was frozen in the Wildcats zone. The Bulldogs won that faceoff before both teams almost scored a goal, with sophomore goaltender Martin Lundberg stopping the puck. Ferris won that faceoff, and both teams got good shots before another frozen puck in the Bulldogs’ zone.
Bulldogs got possession after the faceoff before an out-of-play puck forced a faceoff at center ice, and a puck frozen off the glass brought the faceoff in the Ferris zone.
Ferris State got on the board first with a goal by redshirt senior forward Caden Brown at 6:03 into the first period, his fourth of the season.
A cross-checking penalty from redshirt junior forward Carter Rapalje and freshman forward Matthew Ward put the game at a four-on-four for two minutes. Then a holding penalty by Bulldog senior forward Tyler Schleppe and a delay of game by junior defenseman Warren Clark put the game on a three-on-three for six seconds until the cross-check penalty wore off. The penalty was killed off, and both teams returned to full strength.
Neither team was able to score again in the first period, the Bulldogs up 1-0.
Ferris State won the second period opening faceoff. A tripping penalty by senior forward John Lundy put Northern on a five-on-four advantage, which the Bulldogs were able to kill off. Ferris then went on a man advantage with a delay of game penalty.
Ferris scored a shorthanded goal by Schleppe to put the Bulldogs up 2-0 with 9:36 left in the second. Wildcat freshman forward Peter Cisar got a cross-checking and a game misconduct, putting the Bulldogs on a man advantage. Then, with 8:20 left in the period, and on the power play, Rapalje scored to make the score 3-0 Bulldogs.
A charging the goaltender penalty by former Bulldog, senior forward Caiden Gault put the Bulldogs on a power play, and then a boarding penalty put Ferris on a five-on-three. Northern Michigan killed off both penalties to end the second period with the Bulldogs up 3-0.
With 14:17 left in the third period, Schleppe scored his second of the game to bring the score to 4-0 Bulldogs. Then, with 12:11 left, junior forward Tanner Rowe scored to make it 5-0.
With 4:26 left in the game, Rapalje scored his second of the game to bring Ferris State’s lead to 6-0. That would be the final score. Ferris outshot the Wildcats 40-25, and Lundberg stopped all shots he faced, earning one of the three stars of the game.
Head coach Brett Riley loved what he saw from his goaltender.
“I just thought he competed,” Riley said. “He saw pucks clean, he’s a super consistent guy, and he gave us a super consistent effort.”
Ferris State’s last series of the regular season will be in Sault Ste. Marie on Thursday, February 26, and Friday, February 27, at Lake Superior State.