BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Western Michigan rebounded from Friday's loss to down the Canisius Golden Griffins, 4-1, at the First Niagara Center on Saturday night.
Sheldon Dries led the way for the Bronco offense with two goals on the night. Michael Rebry netted his first collegiate goal of his career, Kenney Morrison added his second of the season and freshman Aidan Muir tallied two assists. Lukas Hafner made 14 saves to pick up his first win of the season.
WMU's power play was stellar once again converting on 2-of-5 chances and the penalty kill held Canisius to just one goal on five power plays. Western Michigan also outshot Canisius XX-XX with Dries tallying a game-high 6 shots.
The sophomore captain netted his first of his two goals on the night at 7:01 of the first period to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Dries picked up the puck from Muir in the left circle and fired a sharp-angle shot that found its way past CC goalie Keegan Asmundson for his first of the season. Will Kessel also tallied an assist on the goal.
Dries struck again in the second period, this time on the power play, at 8:04. Chris Dienes played a pass through the slot and Dries one-timed it into the back of the net to push the lead to 2-0.
After a five-minute major penalty on Colton Hargrove the Golden Griffins capitalized on the ensuing power play with Stephen Farrell ripping one past Hafner from the top of the left circle to cut the lead to 2-1.
The third period was all Western Michigan with Rebry lighting the lamp at 3:49 in the third period. Rebry came out of the box and Muir found him at the CC blue line. The speedy sophomore streaked by a Canisius defender and put the puck between Asmundson's legs, pushing the lead to 3-1.
Minutes later at 5:41 Western Michigan had a five-on-three advantage and Morrison let a rocket go from the deep slot for his second goal of the season. Nolan LaPorte and Sam Mellor each tallied assists on the power play goa.
Western Michigan opens National Collegiate Hockey Conference play next weekend on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. against Nebraska-Omaha.
