HOME ICE WINNER: Wildcats Top Bowling Green

This story was written by NMU Sports Information

MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Wildcats returned to home ice and took care of business Friday night, earning three crucial CCHA points in a 4-1 victory over the Bowling Green State Falcons.

Kristof Papp opened the scoring on a power play goal early in the contest, and the 'Cats took a one goal lead into the middle frame.

After a deadlocked first 13 minutes of the second, the 'Cats broke through with a pair of goals in quick succession. Isack Bandu scored his first career goal on a slick breakaway move, then a minute later he sprung Grant Slukynsky on a rush that he buried with a wicked wrister from the high slot, giving the 'Cats a three-goal cushion with five minutes to go in the second, deflating the Falcons as the period was coming to a close.

With some crucial saves from Beni Halasz and solid team defense down the stretch, the Wildcats put the exclamation point on the evening as Connor Eddy found the empty net with a shot from his own defensive end, sealing the deal in a 4-1 win.

The Wildcats now improve to 11-14-6 overall and 9-10-4 in CCHA play with 33 points. The Falcons fall to 13-18-1 overall and 11-11-1 in CCHA play with 35 points.

With the help of St. Thomas, the 'Cats can still find themselves hosting a first-round series. Should the Wildcats and Tommies both win in regulation once again tomorrow, Northern Michigan will host Michigan Tech next weekend.

Kristof Papp opened the scoring, giving him two points in three games and his sixth goal of the year
Isack Bandu scored his first career goal on a breakaway before sending Slukynsky away on an odd-man-rush, giving him his second multi-point night of the season
Grant Slukynsky continued his torrid pace, scoring his fourth goal in five games and bringing his season total to six
Connor Eddy scored his sixth goal of the year on an empty netter, giving him six goals on the season
Andre Ghantous recorded his seventh multi-point game of the year, giving him seven points in his last six games
Josh Zinger registered an assist, giving him 17 assists and two points in his last three games
Beni Halasz made 27 saves for a .964 SV%
The 'Cats continue their hot run on the man advantage, going 1/3 on the evening to bring them to nine PPGs the last seven games (9/23, 39.1% in that frame)
With both a Wildcat and St. Thomas win in regulation, the Wildcats still have a chance to be on home ice for the first round of the playoffs. If the 'Cats and the Tommies get three points again, the 'Cats will host the Huskies next weekend
The Wildcats now improve to 7-6-2 when scoring first, 9-4-2 at home, 5-4-0 when leading after the first period, and 10-1-1 when leading after the second period

The 'Cats red hot power play kept rolling and opened the scoring on the power play. Zinger dropped the puck to Ghantous who carried the blue line before pulling up in the high slot and sliding the puck to the slot, finding Papp all alone who was patient with the puck and beat the sliding Moore to the stick side.

A chance to extend the lead, Rylan Van Unen corralled a pass on a two-on-one and beat the outstretched Moore over the blocker, but rang the puck off the post.

The Wildcats struck in quick succession late in the period, as Bandu scored his first career goal on a breakaway before assisting on a goal from Slukynsky a minute later, and just like that the 'Cats held a three-goal lead with five minutes to go in the middle frame.

The Falcons snapped the shutout with a power play goal, as a forced turnover in the 'Cats defensive zone led to a pretty passing play that found Dalton Norris all alone in the slot and beat Halasz over the blocker moving east to west.

Eddy would seal the deal, as he corralled the puck just inside the defensive blueline and fired it the length of the ice into the empty net, giving the 'Cats their 4-1 lead.

The 'Cats finish up the 2023-24 regular season tomorrow night at 6:07 p.m. with senior night.