Jerry Kuhn turned in a superb effort in net, making 31 saves to help WMU earn its first victory in the quarterfinals since defeating Northern Michigan in 2001. The victory was the first career playoff win for Kuhn, who improved his personal record to 10-6-6 on the season. Dan DeKeyser scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the decisive second period and later picked up an assist, while Shane Berschbach and Trevor Elias added goals for the Brown & Gold. The quarterfinal series is now tied at one-apiece. 

Mike Fillinger scored the lone goal for the Bulldogs, and Travis Ouellette picked up his third point in the series with an assist. Pat Nagle made 28 saves for the Bulldogs, who fell to 18-15-5.

After battling to a scoreless tie through the first intermission, the scoring opened up in the second period as both teams earned a number of quality scoring chances. Kuhn made a big save on a breakaway opportunity by Fillinger in the opening seconds of the period to keep the game scoreless. At the 10:00 mark, WMU would break through. With Kuhn heading to the bench on a delayed penalty call, Dennis Brown fed the puck down low to Berschbach, whose shot found the back of the net for a 1-0 Bronco advantage. The goal was Berschbach's eighth of the season and first career playoff goal, with Brown and Dane Walters picking up the assists. 

Riding the momentum off their first goal, the Broncos kept up the pressure to draw a penalty and earn the power play. Kyle O'Kane and Max Campbell won a puck battle in the corner back to DeKeyser at the point. DeKeyser skated to the middle of the ice and unleashed a wrist-shot through an Elias screen that found the back of the net to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead at the 15:14 mark. It was the fifth goal of the season for DeKeyser, with O'Kane and Campbell earning the assists. WMU was 1-of-2 on it power play opportunities.

The Bulldogs were able able to cut the Bronco advantage in half in the closing minutes of the period. Ouellette intercepted a Bronco pass in his own end and sent a long lead pass to Fillinger, who beat Kuhn over his stick-side shoulder for his ninth goal of the season. The goal, which came at the 17:02 mark, was the last scored in an intense second period. 

Kuhn kept the Bulldogs at bay with a pair of big saves in a three-on-one in the opening minutes of the third period. Kuhn slid to his blocker side to make a kick-save and stopped the rebound attempt. Ferris State kept up the pressure, but Kuhn stopped all ten Bulldog attempts in the final stanza. 

Elias added an empty-net goal for the final margin. Campbell won a face-off in the Bronco end and DeKeyser cleared the puck around the boards towards the neutral zone. Elias corralled the puck around the red line and snuck a long shot just inside the post for his fourth goal of the season at the 19:05 mark to seal the victory. The assist picked up by Campbell on the goal was the 32nd point of the season for the senior, a new career high.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow night for the rubber-match of the series, with face-off set for 7:05 p.m. The winner of tomorrow night's contest will earn a trip to Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA semifinals. Live coverage will be provided by the Bronco Radio Network and Bronco Insider.