Wolverines Fall 6-3 to Falcons on Senior Night

Saturday, March 4

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:05 PM

Michigan

24-8-4, 19-6-3CCHA

Bowling Green

15-18-1, 12-15-1

Bowling Green

Michigan

3/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Michigan ice hockey team saw its seven-game unbeaten streak snapped with a 6-3 loss to Bowling Green in the final regular season home game Saturday night (March 4). The Wolverines received a strong performance from Scott Matzka (Port Huron, Mich.) who scored two of the three Michigan goals, including his second short-handed goal of the weekend, giving him six multi-point games this season.

Michigan finished the Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular season with a league-best 19-6-3 record (24-8-4 overall) and earned its sixth regular-season title in the last nine years. With the conference championship, Michigan receives the No. 1 seed in the CCHA Tournament and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament which begins the weekend of March 24-26 in Albany, N.Y. and Minneapolis, Minn.

To open the game, Bowling Green (15-18-1, 12-15-1 CCHA) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period with two goals in just 40 seconds. Michigan fired 12 shots on goal during the first period, including a two-man advantage for the last 2:41 of the first period, but was unable to beat Falcon goalie Tyler Masters.

Marc Barlow put the Falcons ahead 3-0 at the 6:39 mark of second period when his shot from the left circle deflected off a Wolverine defender and slid past Josh Blackburn (Choctaw, Okla.). However, just over a minute later, Matzka's found the net to cut the Flacon lead to 3-1 heading into the second intermission.

Greg Day put the Falcons ahead 4-1 just under two minutes into the third period when his shot from the right circle beat Blackburn to give the Falcons a three-goal lead. Michigan cut the lead to 4-2 on John Shouneyia's power-play goal 4:31 into the period. Mike Comrie (Edmonton, Alberta) and Andy Hilbert (Howell, Mich.) picked up the assists, giving Comrie 14 career points (6-8-14) against the Falcons in just nine games.

After Scott Hewson and Craig Desjarlais scored to give the Falcons a 6-2 lead, Matzka tallied his second goal of the contest and his second short-handed goal of the weekend, with just 52 seconds remaining to round out the scoring at 6-3.

Josh Blackburn made 24 saves and suffered just his second defeat of the season, dropping his record to 11-2-4. Tyler Masters stopped 26 Wolverine shots in the win.

Saturday's (March 4) contest marked the final regular-season appearance at Yost Ice Arena for seniors Krikor Arman (West Bloomfield, Mich.), Kevin Magnuson (Lake Forest, Ill.), Andrew Merrick (Syosset, N.Y.), and captain Sean Peach (Langley, B.C.). Each player dressed for the game and was recognized after the contest.

Next weekend (March 10-12) the Wolverines will host Western Michigan in the first round of the CCHA Tournament. Game 1 is set for Friday at Yost Ice Arena at 7:35 p.m. Saturday's (March 11) game begins at 7:05 p.m., and Sunday's game (if necessary) will start at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for the weekend series are on sale now through the Athletic Department Ticket Office by calling 734-764-0247.

Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423