Game Notes vs. Michigan State (34 Pages)
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The Bowling Green State University hockey team will conclude the 2006-07 regular season this weekend in a home-and-home series with the Michigan State Spartans. On Friday night the Falcons will play host to MSU as they honor Jeremy Bronson and James Unger on senior night at 7:05 p.m. The following night BGSU travels to East Lansing, Michigan for their final regular season game of the year. Saturday's opening face-off is set for 6:30 p.m.

Series with Michigan State
Michigan State leads the all-time series 60-27-8, with the two teams splitting a home-and-home last season, with the home team capturing both wins. Bowling Green's last win in East Lansing came on Dec. 3, 2004 in a game where Jordan Sigalet made 46 saves and his brother Jonathan scored both goals in a 2-1 win.

BGSU assistant coach Danton Cole played for the Spartans from 1986-89 recording 163 career points (69g, 94a) in 180 games. The 180 games played is still a school record.

Last Weekend's Recap
BGSU 1, at Ferris State 2
BGSU 2, at Ferris State 5
The Falcons suffered back-to-back losses this past weekend, dropping a 2-1 and 5-2 decision to Ferris State in Big Rapids, Michigan. Ferris held a 72-60 shot advantage for the weekend, scoring three power-play goals to BGSU's one.

On Friday night Derek Whitmore scored his team-leading 14th goal of the season at 13:53 of the third to cut the FSU lead to 2-1. BGSU was awarded a power-play attempt for the final 1:24 of the game, and with Jimmy Spratt pulled for the extra attacker, the Orange and Brown could not score with the 6-on-4 advantage. Spratt made a career-high 42 saves. Ferris State hit four posts and a crossbar on Friday, while the Falcons rang two shots off the post in game one.

The following night BGSU hit three posts and missed a wide open net in the 5-2 loss. The Falcons' two goals were scored 11 seconds and 10 seconds after FSU scored. BGSU's two goals came from Kai Kantola (who hit two of the posts) and Brandon Svendsen.

In the two games BGSU hit five posts (two on Friday, three on Saturday), while Ferris hit six (five on Friday, one on Saturday.

100 Games Played
The BGSU hockey team entered this year with just one player having played at least 100 games (James Unger, 108). Now, 34 games into this season the Falcons have five players at 100-plus games (James Unger, 125, Jonathan Matsumoto, 106, Michael Hodgson, 105, Jeremy Bronson, 105 and Derek Whitmore, 101).

After 40 Minutes Of Play
In the last seven games BGSU has either been tied or trailed by one goal entering the third period, but are just 1-5-1 in those contests. The Falcons' lone win came versus #9 Michigan when the Orange and Brown scored two goals in the final seven minutes of action to beat the Wolverines 3-2.

So, Where are We Going?
One thing we know for sure, BGSU will be traveling to the #5 seed next weekend in the opening round of the CCHA Tournament. Who that opponent may be is still up in the air. The Orange and Brown could be traveling to any of these teams: Michigan State, Western Michigan, Nebraska-Omaha, or Ohio State. Only MSU and WMU can still get a 1st round bye. Wins are the first tie-breaker.

Current Standings

Team 	Points 	Wins 	Opponent
4. Michigan State 	31 	14	@BG/vs. BG
5. Western Michigan	27	13	@LSSU
6. Nebraska-Omaha	26	11	@ Alaska
7. Ohio State	    26	11	vs. UM

Falcon Special Teams Improving
In their last six games the Falcons' special teams have shown steady improvement compared to their overall numbers. The BGSU power play is 5-for-35 (.143), scoring goals in four of those games. The Falcon PK has also shined, stopping 35-of-42 (.833) opposing attempts.

Overall 	Category 	Last 6 Games

21-228 (.092) 	Power Play 	5-35 (.143)
170-213 (.798)	Penalty Kill	35-42 (.833)

Staying Out Of The Sin Bin A Must
In games this season where the Falcons commit fewer penalties than their opponent they are 4-11-1 and are 1-2-2 in games where they have an equal amount of whistles blown. On the other hand they are just 1-13-0 in games where they commit more penalties than their opponent.

Whitmore Posts Career Numbers
With a goal and an assist versus #9 Michigan and another goal this past weekend versus Ferris, Derek Whitmore now has 23 points this season, breaking last year's total of 20 points (13g, 7a). Whitmore's 14 goals and nine assists are also both career-bests.

Spratt Sets Career Mark
Versus Alaska (Jan. 26-27) Jimmy Spratt made 74 saves on 81 (.914) shots faced, recording 37 saves on both nights. The 74 saves in a weekend were a career-high. His previous-best was 66 saves in back-to-back games versus Alaska back on Dec. 8-9. Spratt continued to set new personal-bests this past weekend when he made 42 saves in a 2-1 loss to FSU. His previous best was 40 saves in a loss to St. Lawrence.

Spratt Hitting on All Cylinders
In his last six starts Jimmy Spratt has posted a 2.49 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, while posting a 1-4-1 record, allowing just 15 goals in 361:11 minutes of action. Not to mention he has faced some of the best offensive power in the nation, shutting down Notre Dame (twice) and Michigan.