BGSU rebounds for split with Michigan

After an impressive 6-1 win Friday night at home against Bowling Green, Michigan couldn't get the series sweep Saturday night as their home-and-home ended with a 5-2 loss to the Falcons.

Michigan's nine-game winning streak and 12-game (11-0-1) unbeaten streak against Bowling Green came to an end. The streak began on Jan. 26, 2002. The last Falcon win in the series had been on Jan. 25, 2002. U-M's eight-game (7-0-1) unbeaten streak at Bowling Green was also snapped. The last Wolverine road loss to BGSU came on Dec. 3, 1999.

Andrew Cogliano had two goals and an assist and Noah Ruden made 26 saves as the Wolverines got back in the CCHA win column on Friday. Goals by captain Andrew Ebbett and Cogliano (power play) gave U-M a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes and Tim Cook (shorthanded), Cogliano and T.J. Hensick found the net in the second period to put the Wolverines up 5-1. Kevin Porter (pictured right) added the final goal for U-M.

With his goal, Porter tied his single-season career high for goals with his 11th tally of 2005-06. Last year he had 11 goals in 39 games.

"We always seem to have bad starts, especially (Tuesday) at the Michigan State game," said Cogliano. "We needed a good start. So when Andrew Ebbett got the first goal and then I got the second, we got a good jump on the game. We came prepared and ready for the second period."

But Saturday, U-M (14-9-1, 9-6-1 CCHA) allowed three power-play goals for just the third time this season and BGSU head coach Scott Paluch earned his first win in 12 tries against the Wolverines. He was previously 0-10-1.

Chad Kolarik and Porter each had a power-play goal and an assist in the loss and Ruden and Billy Sauer combined for 44 stops. Ruden allowed all five BGSU goals in 43:35 of work.

The next games for the Wolverines come against the Spartans on Jan. 27-28. Friday's game is at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing and will start at 8 p.m. and will also be televised by CSTV. Saturday's bout moves to Joe Louis Arena in Detroit and that game will be on FSN Detroit and start at 7:35 p.m.