Box Score
DULUTH, Minn. -- After six goals were scored in the third period, the Western Michigan Broncos fell to the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, 6-5, in overtime in a roller coaster game in front of 4,020 fans at the DECC on Saturday night.
Two power-play goals and a short-handed goal by the Bulldogs erased a 3-1 WMU lead . Ryan Watson tied the game up, 4-4, on a short-handed goal with 2:33 left in the third period. Watson picked up a loose pick with UMD goalie Alex Stalock tied up with a UMD defender, he put the wrap-a-round into an empty net.
Less than a minute later Jordan Fulton scored off a pass from Andrew Carol for the game-winner. Western Michigan pulled goaltender Jerry Kuhn from the net with 1:18 remaining and UMD had a chance at an empty-netter but the puck went through MacGregor Sharp's legs. Patrick Galivan picked up the loose puck and split three Bulldog defenders and put the puck through Stalock's legs on the off-balanced shot to tie the game, 5-5.
With 2:27 remaining in the over-time period Sharp scored off a pass from Evan Oberg, beating Kuhn on his glove side for the game-winner. Kuhn finished with a career-high 50 saves but it was not enough.
Despite being out-shot 20-9 in the first period the Broncos had some good chances with one at the 10-minute mark of the first period Greg Squires had the puck in the near circle and an open net in front of him, but the puck got between his legs and he was unable to get a shot off.
Western Michigan had a five-on-three advantage for 56 seconds but were unable to score. However, just seconds after the five-on-thee ended Kevin Connauton fired a shot on net with Stalock making the initial save. The puck bounced off his stick and out to Squires, who once again had an open net but this time buried it for his second goal of the season to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Connauton picked up his third assist on the season and Tyler Ludwig added his second helper on the season.
Minutes later the Bulldogs tied it up when Jack Connolly put in the rebound on a shot by Michael Gergen. Gergen's shot went off of Kuhn's blocker but bounced straight to Connolly's stick for his first career goal.
Western Michigan struck again on the power play minutes into the second period. After a flurry of shots by the Broncos, freshman Derek Roehl buried the puck in the net for his first collegiate goal. Galivan and Ludwig were credited on the assists with Galivan picking up his second on the season and Ludwig picking up his third.
The Broncos pushed the lead to 3-1 after Roehl intercepted a Bulldog pass. Roehl's shot went right between the legs of Stalock for his first multi-goal game of his career.
Western Michigan opened up the third period attempting to kill a five-on-three Bulldog advantage for the first 1:57 of the period. Duluth took advantage and scored a goal 45 seconds into the period. Oberg fired a slap shot from the right circle and over Kuhn's right shoulder to bring the Bulldogs within one, 3-2.
Duluth tied the game, 3-3, with 14:55 remaining in the third period on a short handed goal by Carol. Oberg picked up a loose puck skating down the ice. Oberg passed the puck in front of the net to Carol, who beat Kuhn on his glove side.
Minutes later the Bulldogs took the lead, 4-3, on a power play goal by Mike Connolly to take UMD's first lead of the game.
Western Michigan, who finished in with a 0-6-3 record in overtime in 2007-08, hosts Ferris State on Friday at 7:35 p.m. to open up Central Collegiate Hockey Association play.
