The Broncos struck first just nine minutes into the game on a power play. Freshman center Chase Balisy passed the puck from the right circle to Matt Tennyson in the left circle and the sophomore defenseman banged it home for his first goal of the season. Balisy tallied the first assist of his collegiate career  and Trevor Elias also notched a helper as WMU took a 1-0 lead.

Freshman Danny DeKeyser lit the lamp for the first time in his collegiate career to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead at the 16:03 mark of the first period. DeKeyser took the puck from senior Captain Ian Slater and fired a shot from just left of the slot and past Canisius goalie Dan Morrison. Slater and sophomore defenseman Ross Henry picked up assists as WMU took a two goal lead into the intermission.

Canisius came out firing in the second period, scoring a goal at the 2:52 mark. Cory Conacher, who tallied 53 points last season, took a pass from Ben Danford and beat WMU goalie Jerry Kuhn glove side for his first of the season on the power play. Danford and Vincent Scarsella, a 41 point scorer from last season, each picked up assists as Canisius cut the lead to 2-1.

The Golden Griffins tied the game midway through the period at the 10:31 mark and it was Conacher and Scarsella hooking up once again. Scarsella created a turnover in the Bronco zone and passed it to Conacher. The senior winger juked Kuhn and buried it into the net for his second of the night.

It didn't take long after that for Canisius to score its third goal in the period and take the lead for the first time. The Griffs had a five-on-three advantage and Wes Love buried the puck into an open net just after a Bronco defender was released from the penalty box. Love got the puck on a circle-to-circle pass and caught Kuhn out of position for his first on the season. Conacher and Danford each tallied assists on the power play goal.

The Broncos tied it up just before the end of the second period on a power play goal by Max Campbell. Campbell took the puck from Shane Berschbach and skated into the slot, firing the puck through Morrison's legs for his first of the season. Berschbach and Greg Squires each tallied assists with the game deadlocked at 3-3.

Midway through the third period Conacher completed the hat-trick at the 9:30 mark. Conacher beat Kuhn on his stick side for his third of the night, with Love and Scarsella picking up assists on the game-winning goal. Patrick Sullivan later added a goal with 3:56 remaining in the game after he knocked in a rebound on a shot from Eric Rex.

Western Michigan gets another crack at the Golden Griffins, hosting Canisius at 7:35 p.m. on Saturday night.