Box Score
SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. -- Riley Gill made 31 saves and Patrick Galivan and Chris Clackson each netted a pair of goals as Western Michigan defeated Lake Superior State, 4-1, in front of 2,100 fans at Taffy Abel Arena on Saturday night.
Western Michigan got the jump on the Lakers midway through the first period. Ian Slater passed the puck to Clackson, who took it from the red line and all the way across the ice to the left circle before letting loose with a quick wrist shot. Cam Watson screened LSSU goaltender Pat Inglis and the puck went passed him on his stick side to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Clackson tallied his fifth goal of the season, his first since Oct. 28 against Ferris State. Connauton tallied his ninth helper of the season and fellow freshman Ian Slater picked up his second assist of the season and second point on the weekend.
The Brown & Gold took a 2-0 lead at the 15:27 mark of the first period. Max Campbell dumped it behind the net to Patrick Galivan. Galivan threw the puck towards the crease from behind the red line and off Inglis's leg and into the net for his 14th on the season. The goal extended Galivan's point streak to 20 points in 10 games and also extended his goal-scoring streak to five games. Campbell picked up his 11th assist on the season and third of the series and freshman Greg Squires also tallied an assist, his 17th on the season and third point of the series.
The second goal of the first period was enough for LSSU head coach Jim Roque, pulling Inglis in favor of sophomore goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson. Inglis was pulled in the third period of Friday night's game after surrendering four goals in 10 minutes.
The Lakers almost got on the scoreboard with 13:05 left in the second period but the would-be goal was waved off due to Steven Oleksy's presence in the crease, shielding Gill from getting to the puck.
Western Michigan held its 2-0 lead in the second period but was unable to capitalize on three power play chances. The Broncos did keep the lakers off the scoreboard, killing two power plays in the process.
The Broncos put the nail in the coffin with 3:54 remaining in the third period on a power play goal by Clackson. This time the goal came from the right circle, beating Mahoney-Wilson on his glove side. Tyler Ludwig tallied an assist, his 17th on the season, as the Broncos took a 3-0 lead.
Shortly after the power play goal LSSU pulled Mahoney-Wilson from the net to get the extra attacker and capitalized quickly, scoring just seconds after the goaltender reached the bench. Zac MacVoy got Gill to commit early for the goal.
Mahoney-Wilson remained on the bench to keep the extra attacker out and WMU took advantage after Galivan picked off a pass at the LSSU blue line to put it in the net for his second of the night and 15th on the season.
Western Michigan returns to host Bowling Green for its final series of the regular season on Friday and Saturday at 7:35 p.m., with the Senior Night celebration during Saturday's game.
