SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana hockey scored twice on four power play opportunities and held Ferris State scoreless in the third period as the No. 9/10 Vikings cruised to a 4-1 win over the Bulldogs on Saturday night at Midco Arena.
Now just one of two undefeated teams in the nation, the win moves to the Vikings to a record of 9-0-3 so far this season with a 4-0-2 showing in the conference while the Bulldogs drop to 1-7-2 and 1-4-1.
Ferris State struck first at 18:36 in the opening period at even strength after Augustana had put early pressure on Alan Lendak with several shots. The Vikings soon tied it at 1-1 at 7:26, with
Erick Comstock finishing at even strength from
Nace Langus and
Cole Burtch for his first career goal in his first career appearance for AU. A power play came for the visitors after a cross-checking penalty at 5:04, but
Mathis Langevin handled the chances that reached him, and Augustana pushed late with
Leonid Bulgakov hitting the pipe at 1:50 before carrying a power play into the intermission.
Bulgakov scored on that AU power play at 19:46, with
Owen Baumgartner and
Heath Nelson assisting, to give Augustana a 2-1 lead early in the second period. Ferris State pushed back with a cluster of chances in the opening minutes, but Langevin turned away each shot on goal during that stretch. The Vikings continued to generate looks through the middle and late stages of the period, and Bulgakov struck again on another power play at :35 off assists, again, from Nelson and Baumgartner. The late goal sent Augustana into the third period with a 3-1 lead.
The Vikings generated the early third-period push, and
Owen Bohn scored at 17:19 off assists from Langus and Whiterabbit to make it 4-1. Ferris State created looks through the middle of the period, while Augustana also had
Landon Fandel hit the pipe and put pressure on during a power play that ended at 8:36. The Bulldogs went on the power play at 4:37 and continued to send pucks toward Langevin after it expired, but AU held the score at 4-1 through the final horn.
Game Moments
- Augustana narrowly controlled the faceoff dot by winning 52% of all total faceoffs
- Langevin totaled 21 saves on 22 shots
- The Vikings registered 33 shots on goal compared to the Bulldogs' 22
- Ferris State's Lendak turned away 29 of AU's 33 shots
- Eight different Vikings scored in the Saturday affair, including four multi-point performances
Goals
- The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a first period goal 1:24 into play as Stupka assisted Leek
- Comstock scored his first career goal in his first career appearance as a Viking off assists from Langus and Burth at 12:34
- Bulgakov connected 14 seconds into the second period with help from Baumgartner and Nelson for a power play goal
- AU's second power play goal of the game—and the second for Bulgakov, as well—came at 19:25 in the second with assists from Nelson and Baumgartner to put the Vikings ahead 3-1
- The night's final goal was scored by Bohn off dishes from Langus and Whiterabbit at 2:41 in the third period to finalize the 4-1 score
UP NEXT
Augustana hockey returns to the road for a big conference series as the Vikings head out to face Bowling Green in Ohio on Friday, Nov. 20 and Saturday, Nov. 21.
--GoAugie.com--
