Wildcats win in OT vs. No. 8 Bowling Green
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Northern Michigan University senior forward Ryan Kesti took a feed from sophomore forward Sami Salminen at 3:36 in in overtime to give the Wildcats hockey team a 3-2 win over No. 8 Bowling Green Friday in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action.
The win snaps a four-game skid for the Wildcats who improved 12-13-6 with a 9-10-4 WCHA record. Bowling Green fell to 18-8-5 with a 14-6-3 league mark.
Bowling Green’s Brandon Hawkins scored the first goal of the game at the 3:06 mark of the second period on feeds from Ben Murphy and Braden Pears.
Wildcat freshman forward Robbie Payne scored his fifth goal of the season at the 18:04 mark of the third period to knot the game at 1-1. Sophomore forward John Siemer and senior defenseman Luke Eibler recorded assists on the play.
Just 27-seconds later, Bowling Green recaptured the lead when Pierre-Luc Mercier converted assists from Mitchell McClain and Sean Walker, 2-1.
NMU tied the game again on a power play goal from sophomore forward Gerard Hanson. Junior forward Darren Nowick and sophomore defenseman Brock Maschmeyer assisted on the goal which came with 8:30 left in regulation.
The Wildcats were outshot in the contest 39-24 as NMU junior goalie Michael Doan picked up 37 saves in net improving his season record to 2-6-2. Tommy Burke played the entire game in net for the Falcons as he moved to 9-4-3 on the loss.
NMU was 1-3 on the power play while Bowling Green was 0-2 on their man-advantage.
The Wildcats wrap up their series at Bowling Green Saturday. Puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m. at the BGSU Ice Arena.
(Information Courtesy of NMU Athletics)