Wildcat’s chance of making CCHA Playoffs take a big hit
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — In a game plagued by penalties, the Wildcats fell 6-0 on the Bulldogs’ senior night.
After tonight’s result, the Wildcats (3-26-1, 3-18-1 CCHA) now fall six points back of the final playoff spot and Ferris State (6-25-1, 5-18-1 CCHA) in the CCHA standings, making the final home series and penultimate weekend of the regular season against the Lakers this coming weekend critical to try and earn the final playoff spot.
The Wildcats and Bulldogs combined for 18 penalties and 47 minutes, with each team being whistled for nine infractions. The ‘Cats 29 penalty minutes are the most in a single game since two seasons ago (January 27, 2024, 30 PIM), and the fourth-most in the past seven seasons.
NMU netminder William Gramme had to be sharp in the opening 20 minutes; aside from Caden Brown scoring on a rebound through traffic, the netminder made 19 saves, including a crucial sequence in the final 30 seconds of the period. While the period was fast, there were a lot of whistles; NMU and FSU combined for 12 penalties, and the teams even skated three-on-three for a short period.
The ‘Cats took six penalties and 23 penalty minutes in the second period, as the teams combined for nine penalties and 29 total minutes, including Peter Cisar receiving a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Tyler Schleppe scored the first short-handed goal of his career, and Tyler Rapalje scored nine seconds into the five-minute major to give Ferris a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs outshot the Wildcats 12-4 in the middle frame.
Schleppe scored his fourth goal of the weekend after redirecting a blast from the point, Tanner Rowe added the fifth tally of the game, and freshman Max Weilandt replaced Gramme. Rapalaje converted on a two-on-one as a Bulldog penalty was expiring, and netminder Martin Lundberg recorded a 25-save shutout.
For the game, the ‘Cats were outshot 41-26 despite the shot attempts being just about even at 59-58. NMU went 0/7 on the man advantage, FSU scored on one of its seven power play attempts, Ferris won 37 faceoffs to 25, and blocked 17 shots to seven.
How It Happened
The Bulldogs opened the scoring as a shot from the point and through traffic generated a rebound, and senior Brown put the Bulldogs on top.
While on the man advantage, the ‘Cats were breaking out of its own end before the Bulldogs forced a turnover in the Wildcat end. Schleppe walked in all alone down the slot after receiving a pass from Gavin Best and beat Gramme through the five-hole.
Just nine seconds into the major penalty, Rapalje took a one-timer from the left circle and wired a blistering slapshot past the ear of Gramme.
While providing a flash screen, Schleppe perfectly redirected a shot from the point past Gramme, and there was nothing the Wildcat netminder could do.
Rowe was left all alone in the slot, received a pass from the corner, and beat Gramme from in tight.
