Series Preview: at Bowling Green, Nov. 20-21

After an off week, the Chargers are back in WCHA action with a trip to their nearest conference foe, Bowling Green. Puck drop Friday and Saturday nights in Ohio are at 6:07 p.m. Central Time.

Matchup history: Bowling Green has a commanding 14-3-1 record over UAH since their first meeting in 2000, and has won 12 of the last 13 meetings. The Falcons are 7-1-1 against the Chargers on their home ice. Since both clubs joined the WCHA in 2013, Bowling Green is 7-1-0. Last season, the Falcons won both games in Huntsville and both games in Bowling Green.

Carmine Guerriero made 28 saves against Michigan Tech on Nov. 7. (Photo by UAH Athletics/Doug Eagan)

Charger recap: UAH (3-4-1 overall, 2-3-1 WCHA) was off last week. Two weeks ago, the Chargers were swept at home by Michigan Tech by scores of 4-2 and 2-1. UAH currently is seventh in the WCHA standings.

In the first game, Josh Kestner scored just 1:21 in to give UAH a 1-0 lead, but the Huskies responded with three straight goals. Brandon Parker scored from his own zone, but that would be as close as the Chargers got. UAH goaltender Matt Larose made 36 saves.

In the second game, Michigan Tech scored both goals in the first period. Cam Knight got his first collegiate goal in the third period for UAH’s only score. Carmine Guerriero had his best outing of the season in net, stopping 28 of 30 shots.

Brennan Saulnier got an assist in the series, giving him 10 points on the season. His 0.86 goals per game average (six goals in seven games played) leads the WCHA and is third-best in NCAA Division I. Max McHugh is secon on the team with eight points, and he and Cody Marooney each have three goals.

UAH has the eighth-highest penalty minute per game average at 14.2.

	Tale of the tape (WCHA rank)
3-4-1 2-3-1 WCHA (7th)	Record	5-3-3 2-2-2 WCHA (6th)
3.12 (2nd)	Goals/game	2.18 (8th)
2.88 (6th)	Goals allowed/game	1.91 (1st)
14.2 (3rd)	Pen. minutes/game	8.5 (9th)
11.1% (9th)	Power play	10.3% (10th)
84.8% (2nd)	Penalty kill	82.5% (5th)

About the Falcons: Bowling Green (5-3-3 overall, 2-2-2 WCHA) comes into the series ranked 15th in the latest USCHO.com poll. They stand in sixth place in the WCHA standings, one point ahead of the Chargers.

Last week, the Falcons split a pair at Michigan Tech in the battle between the WCHA’s two ranked teams. Bowling Green was shut out 2-0 on Friday before winning 3-2 on Saturday.

Bowling Green’s top scorer is Kevin Dufour, a junior who has six goals — tied with Saulnier and four others for the league lead — and eight points. Senior Mark Cooper has five goals this season, three of which are game-winners, including the one over Michigan Tech on Saturday.

Sophomore goaltender Chris Nell has been stellar this season. In eight games (seven starts), he has a 1.20 goals against average and a .958 save percentage, both tops in the WCHA and third in the nation. Nell has been a big reason the Falcons are ninth nationally in goals allowed per game.

This week in the WCHA:

All times Central. Games featuring WCHA teams at home can be seen on WCHA.tv.

Friday, Nov. 20
UAH at #15 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
Alaska at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Minnesota State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Bemidji State, 7:37 p.m.
Penn State at Alaska Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 21
UAH at #15 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
Alaska at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Minnesota State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
#19 Michigan Tech at Michigan State, 6:05 p.m.
Penn State at Alaska Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 22
#19 Michigan Tech at Michigan State, 3:05 p.m.