The Northern Michigan University hockey team picked up a much-needed three points in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings with a 5-2 victory over Bowling Green State on Friday (Feb. 22) evening at the BGSU Ice Arena. The Wildcats scored the first four goals, had four players with multiple points and junior goaltender Jared Coreau stopped 37 shots.
With the win, NMU moves to 14-15-4 overall and 8-13-4-1 in the CCHA. BGSU is 12-16-5 overall and 9-13-3-1 in conference action. The Falcons hold a two-point advantage over the ‘Cats in the standings.
Junior forward Stephan Vigier had two goals and an assist for three points. Junior forward Erik Higby and sophomore defenseman Mitch Jones added a goal and an assist and senior forward Matt Thurber picked up his 25th and 26th assists of the season.
Vigier and Jones scored the first period goals. Senior defenseman Scott Macaulay assisted on Vigier’s sixth of the season 6:29 into the game. Jones scored on the power play for his third of the season with 24 seconds left in the first. Thurber and Higby assisted.
Sophomore forward Ryan Daugherty scored his 10th of the season on the man advantage 6:07 into the second from junior defenseman CJ Ludwig and Vigier.
Vigier’s second of the game came four minutes later for the 4-0 lead. Jones and junior defenseman Austin Handley assisted.
The Falcons scored two goals late in the second period from Connor Kucera (16:41) and Ryan Carpenter (17:55).
Higby scored the final tally 14:04 into the third from Thurber. It was his seventh of the season.
Coreau had 18 saves in the second and 11 in the third. Tommy Burke had 16 saves for the home team.
NMU was 2-for-4 on the man advantage and BGSU was 1-for-7.
The two teams wrap up the CCHA series on Saturday for the final road game of the regular season for NMU. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
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