Ferris State University scored eight goals on just 23 shots to take a 1-0 advantage over Bemidji State University in a best-of-three Western Collegiate Hockey Association Playoff series Friday at Robert L. Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.
Led by three-point efforts from Cory Kane (1g-2a) and Travis White (1g-2a), 12 Bulldogs found their way into the scorebook, with six FSU players recording multi-point nights.
The 8-0 loss worst loss of the 2013-14 season and stands as the largest goal differential since the Beavers dropped a 12-0 game to University of Minnesota Duluth, Dec. 12, 2002.
Ferris State, the 2013-14 WCHA Regular Season Champion and No. 7 team in the nation, opened the scoring 10:47 into the fist period when Justin Buzzeo netted the first of his two goals on the night. One minute, 46 seconds later, the Bulldogs scored again, this time off the stick of Kyle Schempp, establishing a trend of scoring in bunches and grabbing a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.
The Bulldogs would stretch their lead to 4-0 in the second period, scoring two goals on just five shots on goal. White and Buzzeo accounted or FSU’s scoring.
When trailing after two periods of play this season, the Beavers entered the game 1-17-3, while Ferris State was 20-0-1 when taking a lead into the second intermission. FSU would continue those trends adding four goals, the first two separated by just 35 seconds, in the third period to take the 8-0 victory.
It was a rough night for goaltender Andrew Walsh (Jr., British Columbia), who allowed a career-high eight goals on 23 shots in 53:49 of action in his return to the crease. Making his first start since Feb. 15, he was tagged with the loss, dipping his record to 7-12-4.
BSU’s penalty-kill unit proved it belonged among the nation’s top 10, bouncing back from after surrendering four power-play goals in seven opportunities at Bowling Green last week, to hold Ferris State without a goal on three tries.
Despite being shutout, the Beavers held a 26-23 edge in shots on goal.
The setback marked the Beavers’ fourth consecutive playoff loss. BSU’s last WCHA postseason win came March 17, 2011 in a WCHA Final Five quarterfinal match up with University of Minnesota Duluth.
Bemidji State, now 10-20-7 on the season, will fight to keep its season alive tomorrow when it takes the ice against the same Ferris State team (26-9-3) in game two of the best-of-three WCHA Playoff series. Opening face-off is set for 6:07 p.m. (CT) at Robert L. Ewigleben Ice Arena.