KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan's
Trevor Elias beat a Canisius defender in a race to the puck and netted the game-winning goal with 3:02 remaining in the third period to give WMU a 2-1 win over Canisius, completing the weekend sweep of the Golden Griffins in front of 2,803 fans at Lawson Ice Arena on Saturday night.
The goal by Elias was his first of the season.
Dan DeKeyser netted his second goal of the season in the second period, while
Frank Slubowski made 12 saves to pick up his third consecutive wind. Canisius goalie Tony Capobianco made 36 saves on the night as WMU (3-1-0) outshot the CC 38-13. The Broncos took advantage of one of their six power plays on the night and held Canisius scoreless on three of their four.
DeKeyser put the Broncos on the board at 11:01 in the second period to give them a 1-0 lead. DeKeyser took a pass from
Justin Kovacs and fired in from the middle-point and into the net.
Mike Leone, who made his season debut on the night, also notched an assist.
Canisius tied it up at 1:42 in the third period on a power play goal of their own. Duncan McKellar fired a shot from the left circle and it beat Slubowski low stick side to break the shutout streak of over 100 minutes without a goal on the weekend.
Late in the third period
Luke Witkowski flipped the puck up into the air and towards center ice. Elias saw his play and took off down the ice, beating a defender to the puck just between the circles. The senior forward took control and fired it low stick side and off the post and in for the game-winner. DeKeyser also notched an assist on the goal.
Prior to the game-winner WMU freshman forward
Nolan LaPorte was taken down during a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot. Capobianco made the save on the shot, which was the first penalty shot for WMU since Oct. 23, 2009 when Cam Watson netted a goal at Alabama-Huntsville.
The Bronco defense allowed seven shots in the first period and then just six more the rest of the game. WMU also blocked 10 shots on the night with DeKeyser leading the way with three.
Western Michigan has a bye week and then heads to Notre Dame for a Friday/Sunday series on Nov. 2 and 4.
