HOUGHTON, Mich.-Michigan Tech's Shane Hanna scored on a breakaway 6:35 into the second overtime and the Bowling Green State University's hockey season came to a close Saturday with a 3-2 loss in the WCHA championship game.
After Bowling Green (21-18-2) battled back from a 2-0 third-period deficit with a pair of goals 24 seconds apart, the teams settled into a tug-of-war. Neither team was able to break the deadlock through the final 13 minutes of regulation and an entire 20-minute overtime session.
Both teams had limited opportunities in the early stages of the second overtime before Matt Roy's breakout pass led to Hanna's breakaway. He beat BGSU goalie Chris Nell high to send Michigan Tech into the 16-team NCAA Tournament.
BGSU entered the game on a 7-game win streak, the longest for the program since the 1987-88 season. But playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,466, the Falcons were unable to take advantage of early opportunities. The Huskies broke open a scoreless first with a pair of second-period goals to take control.
After being outshot 8-6 in the first period, the Falcons failed to get a shot on goal until earning a power-play opportunity at the 8:40 mark after boarding behind the MTU net. By that point, the Huskies had taken a 1-0 lead on a 2-on-1 opportunity that Joel L'Esperance took advantage of. BGSU rung up 12 shots the rest of the period, including numerous quality opportunities, but the Huskies were still able to build on the lead.
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After two penalties at the 11:56 mark brought 4-on-4 skating with it, Jake Jackson was found open ice after a defensive miscue. His shot from the left circle put the Huskies on top 2-0.
While the Falcons were generating offensive opportunities, they were unable to break through until Joe McKeown's slap shot found the back of the net 6:36 into the third.
With new life, BGSU continued the charge. The Falcons quickly forced a turnover in the offensive zone and Matt Pohlkamp buried a shot just 24 seconds later to tie the game at 2-2. It remained that way until Hanna's winner.
Bowling Green outshot Michigan Tech for the game 38-30, including 23-9 between the second and third periods. Both teams were scoreless on one power-play opportunity. The Huskies twice scored on 4-on-4 hockey, posting their second and third goals with the more open ice.
BGSU reached numerous team milestones during the 2016-17 season. BGSU played in its first conference championship game since 1988. The Falcons have now advanced at least to the league semifinals in all four years they have played in the WCHA and BGSU has won at least one best-of-3 playoff series in seven consecutive years, the longest such streak in the country.
