Falcons return to Houghton for first round of the CCHA Playoffs
HOUGHTON, Mich. – No. 16 Michigan Tech wrapped up its regular season with a 4-3 overtime loss to Bowling Green on Saturday at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Falcons tied the game early in the third and scored 41 seconds into overtime.
The Huskies clinched home ice for the CCHA Quarterfinal best-of-three series and will host BGSU for a second straight weekend in the No. 4/5 match up.
“There’s not much difference and separation at the top of our league. Every game is coming down to a one-shot game,” Tech coach Bill Muckalt said. “Give Bowling Green credit. They’re a well-coached team.
“We’ll regroup. We’re a good hockey team that’s won a lot of hockey games this season. We have to play to our identity, stay connected, and stay disciplined. There are no shortcuts at this time of the year.”
Tech trailed 1-0 entering the second period. Max Koskipirtti tied the game with a one-timer on a 5-on-3 to tie the game 2:41 after intermission. Stiven Sardarian and Jack Anderson assisted on Koskipirtti’s 13th of the season and 24th of his career.
Elias Jansson then set up Teydon Trembecky for a 2-1 Michigan Tech lead 3:13 later. Isaac Gordon also assisted on Trembecky’s 14th of the season.
The Falcons tied it up, scoring nine seconds into their first power play of the game when Gustav Stjernberg found the back of the net from Ben Doran and Breck McKinley.
Scoring wasn’t done in the second as Carson Latimer used his speed to the net and put in his seventh of the season for a 3-2 Huskies’ lead. Reid Daavettila and Joe Prouty assisted on the play.
BGSU’s Tyler Hotson tied the game at three 3:54 into the third period.
Jackson Niedermayer scored the overtime game-winner after Max Koskipirtti carried the puck through the neutral zone and was tripped. Ben Doran assisted on the game-winner.
Quinn Emerson opened the game’s scoring 3:47 after puck drop.
The Falcons thought they took a 2-0 lead later in the first, but Tech challenged the play, and the officials waved it off for goaltender interference.
BGSU led in shots 34-21 in the game. Tyler Palmer made 18 saves for the visitors, and Owen Bartoszkiewicz had 30 saves for the Huskies.
Tech finished with a 21-12-3 overall record and a 16-7-3 mark in the CCHA.
