BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — There's an adage in hockey that a team can seize control of a game by killing a long five-on-three power play.

Ferris State did just that Friday night. And even though it happened early in the contest, it proved to be a huge turning point in the Bulldogs' 3-1 win over UNO to open the second round of the CCHA playoffs.

During the first period, Ferris' Travis Ouellette was whistled for hooking at 5:57. Then at 6:26, Justin Menke was called for cross-checking and joined Ouellette in the box.

Skating two men up for 91 seconds, UNO did a good job of working out some quality shots. But one of those rang off the post, and two others flew wide — with the puck both times ringing all the way around the boards and out of Ferris' zone.

“You have a five-on-three, you hit the pipe and miss the net on three other great opportunities,” said UNO coach Dean Blais, whose Mavs finished 0 for 4 on the power play. “Basically that set the tone for the game right away. We needed to execute there.”

Good seats available

For fans who make a comment about those nights when there are “only” 6,000 or so people at a University of Nebraska at Omaha home game, they need to look at the attendance figure from Friday at Ewigleben Arena.

A season-low crowd of 862 turned out for game one of Ferris State's biggest home series in seven years. The school is on spring break this week, so it was rumored that the turnout could be sparse.

Still, it seemed plenty bizarre that Friday's game — a contest that held so much importance for both teams — played out in front of so few people at the 2,400-seat arena.

When the Bulldogs' public-address announcer told the crowd of the final attendance figure, he added a message: “Come again tomorrow,” he said, “and bring your family and friends.”

Wolverines steal one

In the other CCHA second-round series openers Friday night, Miami beat Ohio State 6-2, Northern Michigan topped Alaska 4-3 and Michigan defeated Michigan State 5-1.

Miami, Ferris and Northern all defended their home ice. The Wolverines were the only road team and lower seed to take a 1-0 series lead.

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