Where: Propst Arena, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Ala.
When: Friday, 6:07 p.m.; Saturday, 3:07 p.m.
Watch: WCHA.tv
Team stats: UAH | Bowling Green
Kurt Gosselin, who can throw a solid hip check, now has 16 career goals at UAH. (Photo by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography)
Charger update: UAH (10-20-2 overall, 9-15-2 WCHA) was off last week, but despite that and being swept by Minnesota State two weeks ago, the Chargers remain in sixth place in the WCHA standings (albeit now tied with Alaska).
In this final week of the regular season against Bowling Green, the Chargers need at least two points (or otherwise get help elsewhere) to qualify for the WCHA playoffs.
Against Minnesota State, which was ranked fifth in the USCHO poll at the time, UAH nearly pulled off an upset in the first game. Kurt Gosselin and Christian Rajic scored two quick goals early in the second period to take a 2-1 lead, but MSU rallied with a goal with 2:10 left in regulation and another 27 seconds into overtime to win. The Mavericks rolled 6-1 in the second game.
Josh Kestner had an assist in the first game to raise his point total to 27 for the season. He’s tied for the WCHA lead with Minnesota State’s C.J. Seuss with 18 goals in conference play and 20 goals overall.
Kestner will be one of eight players who will be finishing their UAH careers this season. They will be honored before Sunday’s home finale.
Brennan Saulnier can return to action after being suspended for four games.
Players to watch:
Josh Kestner (Sr., F, 20 goals-7 assists-27 points in 32 games played)
Tyler Poulsen (Jr., F, 9-14-23 in 30 GP)
Christian Rajic (Fr., F, 9-6-15 in 32 GP)
Kurt Gosselin (Jr., D, 5-10-15 in 32 GP)
Jordan Uhelski (Sr., G, 2.95 goals against average, .910 save percentage in 27 starts)
About the Falcons: Bowling Green (19-9-6 overall, 16-5-5 WCHA) comes to Huntsville winners of seven of its last eight games, including a sweep at Alaska Anchorage last week. The Falcons, sitting in third place in the WCHA standings three points behind Northern Michigan, have clinched home ice in the WCHA quarterfinals.
Three of the top six scorers for the Falcons are freshmen. Max Johnson has scored a goal in six of the last nine games. Brandon Kruse had two assists in the series against UAH at BG back in December.
Alec Rauhauser is second in the nation among defensemen in points per game with 0.97.
Mitchell McLain has 14 points in his last 13 games.
Players to watch:
Alec Rauhauser (So., D, 7-26-33 in 34 GP)
Mitchell McLain (Sr., F, 14-11-25 in 34 GP)
Brandon Kruse (Fr., F, 6-23-29 in 34 GP)
Max Johnson (Fr., F, 10-15-25 in 34 GP)
Adam Smith (Jr., D, 1-3-4 in 34 GP, Nashville Predators prospect)
Ryan Bednard (So., G, 2.32 GAA, .910 SV%, 1 SHO in 20 starts, Florida Panthers prospect)
 |
Tale of the tape (per game averages) |
 |
| 10-20-2 | Overall record | 19-9-6 |
| 9-15-2 | WCHA record | 16-5-5 |
| 2.54 (7th) | Goals/game | 3.15 (2nd) |
| 3.12 (7th) | Goals allowed/game | 2.31 (T-3rd) |
| 15.7 (3rd) | Penalty minutes | 17.0 (2nd) |
| 16.4% (6th) | Power play | 19.5% (4th) |
| 81.2% (7th) | Penalty kill | 84.3% (4th) |
| WCHA rank in parentheses, conference games only | ||
Series notes: Bowling Green leads the all-time series 22-2-4, and is 9-3-0 in Huntsville. The Falcons are 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings, with the last UAH win being a 7-5 decision on March 4, 2016. Back on Dec. 9 in Ohio, UAH tied Bowling Green 3-3 (UAH earning the extra WCHA point in the shootout) and lost 3-1.
Promotions: On Friday, the first 500 fans get a free UAH Hockey trading card set courtesy of Colonial Printing.
Free general admission for kids 12 and under is available to all home games, courtesy of Huntsville International Airport.
This week in the WCHA: All times are Central. Games featuring WCHA teams at home can be seen on WCHA.tv.
Friday, Feb. 23
#15 Bowling Green at UAH, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Michigan Tech at #16 Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at #4 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 24
#15 Bowling Green at UAH, 3:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
#16 Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at #4 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.