Box score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Western Michigan's hockey team dropped a 6-1 decision to the No. 1 ranked Michigan Wolverines in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action tonight at Yost Ice Arena. Junior defenseman Steve Silver registered his first goal of the season for the Broncos just seven seconds into the third period, but a quick goal by UM killed any momentum the Broncos had gained.

“It's some good play from some guys and some not so good play from some other guys. When we're playing a team such as Michigan, we need a total team effort. I know we're run down and bitten by the flu bug, but I thought we had some guys play pretty well,” head coach Jim Culhane said.

“I think the big thing for us, and we talk about it all the time, is puck responsibility. When we handle the puck well and we make good plays, we generate scoring opportunities. But when we were irresponsible or turned it over, they generated scoring opportunities. When we play within ourselves and do the things necessary to be successful, you know, we did some good things.”

Midway through the first period the Broncos had an excellent scoring opportunity on the power play. Sophomore Cam Watson fired a shot from the slot that Michigan netminder Billy Sauer stopped, but Sauer lost his stick in the process and the rebound came out to senior Nathan Ansell on the point. Sauer was still down and without a stick when Ansell teed up his shot, but the post was knocked off its moorings, ending the threat.

Kevin Porter put the Wolverines up 1-0 at 13:29 of the first with a power-play goal assisted by Max Pacioretty and Chad Kolarik. Kolarik started the play, sending an outlet pass ahead to Pacioretty in the neutral zone. The freshman left wing carried the puck into the zone, skating up the left side, and slid a pass to Porter on the right wing. Porter buried it for his 20th goal of the season, his 12th with the man advantage.

Kevin Quick extended the UM lead to 2-0 just 36 seconds into the middle stanza, beating Gill five hole for his first career goal. Kolarik and Porter garnered the assists. Exactly one minute later Travis Turnbull gave the Wolverines a 3-0 edge with help from Chris Summers and Matt Rust. Kolarik pushed Michigan's lead to 4-0 when he stole the puck from a Bronco defender in the defensive zone and aimed top shelf, ringing his shot off the crossbar and in.

At the start of the third period the Broncos changed goaltenders, as freshman Jerry Kuhn entered the game in lieu of Gill. The strategy worked, as junior Steve Silver registered his first goal of the season, firing a shot from the boards on right side that beat Sauer high just seven seconds in. But the Wolverines answered quickly, as Carl Hagelin slammed home a rebound over a sprawling Kuhn to regain the four-goal lead 5-1 at 1:45. Steve Kampfer and Rust earned the assists.

Four minutes later the Wolverines would score their final goal, a four-on-four marker by Summers with the assists going to Turnbull and Porter.

Gill made 26 saves in the loss, while Kuhn stopped 12 shots in relief. Sauer turned aside 21 shots to earn the win. Michigan was 1-6 on the power play while holding WMU scoreless in five chances.

Western Michigan and UM conclude the series tomorrow night at Lawson Arena at 8:05 p.m.