KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan took the lead midway through the third period but surrendered it as the Broncos fell to the Buckeyes 4-3 in a wild game in front of 3,981 fans at Lawson Ice Arena on Saturday night.
The win broke an 11 games winless streak for the Buckeyes. Despite the loss the Broncos stay in second place in the CCHA, five points behind Ferris State. WMU picked up goals from
Chase Balisy,
Matt Tennyson and
Will Kessel on the night and
Frank Slubowski made 26 saves in the loss.
OSU took a 2-0 lead midway through the first period on two power play goals just 1:09 apart. Max McCormick netted his second goal of the weekend from the right circle at 9:14 to give OSU a 1-0 lead. The Broncos took a penalty quickly after the faceoff and were once again on the penalty kill with Ryan Dzingel taking advantage of the penalty with his seventh goal of the season. From the right circle he tried to reach a teammate back-door but the puck deflected off a skate and into the net.
The Broncos cut the lead to 2-1 with 2:02 left in the first period during a two-on-one breakout.
Luke Witkowski created a turnover in the WMU zone and quickly got the puck out to
Shane Berschbach. Berschbach and Balisy worked the odd-man rush perfectly with Balisy netting his 10th of the season. The assist was Berschbach's first of two on the night and 19th on the season.
After a scoreless second period Kessel tied the game for the Broncos at the 7:23 mark in the third period. Kessel took a pass from
Dan DeKeyser and skated through the left circle before back-handing it into the net and past OSU goalie Cal Heeter. DeKeyser and
Greg Squires notched assists on the goal.
The Broncos were on the power play shortly after and Tennyson ripped a slap shot from just beyond the left circle for his ninth goal of the season, tying his career-high.
Mike Leone and Berschbach each tallied assists on the goal as the Broncos took a 3-2 lead with 11:29 remaining in the game.
OSU's Alex Carlson went on to net the next two goals to seal the win for the Buckeyes. His first came on a power play at the 14:36 mark when he back-handed in a rebound on a shot by Darik Angeli to tie the game at 3-3.
With 3:29 left in the game Carlson netted the game-winner after a turnover in the Bronco zone. Alex Lippincott came away with the puck and found Calrson charging through the left circle and he buried his third of the season for the win.
The Buckeyes were 3-for-5 on the power play, while the Broncos were 1-for-4. OSU outshot WMU 30-24.
Western Michigan heads to Lake Superior State for its final two-game road trip of the regular season on Friday and Saturday.
