NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Western Michigan senior captain Jason Polin netted his third hat trick of the season as the 15th-ranked Broncos downed No. 18 Northeastern, 6-4, at the Ford Ice Center Bellevue on Friday night in the Music City Hockey Classic.
 
The game was originally to take place at Bridgestone Arena, but was moved due to a watermain break and flooding at the arena.
 
Freshman forward Ryan McAllister maintained his position as the nation's top scorer after tallying three assists, while Max Sasson and Zak Galambos each had a goal and two assists. The Broncos also picked up a goal from Jacob Bauer.
 
WMU took an early lead with Polin tallying his first of the night just 5:16 into the game. Polin punched in a rebound on a shot by McAllister for his 11th goal of the season. Carter Berger also picked up an assist on the opening goal.
 
Northeastern responded on Aidan McDonough's first goal of the night, scoring on a rebound off a shot by Justin Hryckowian at 10:37.
 
Polin's second of the night came with 3:23 left in the first period on a shot from the right circle, beating NU goalie Devin Levi on his stick side. The open shot was created by a long pass by Galambos, with Sasson also earning an assist.
 
WMU carried its 2-1 lead into the second period but the Huskies scored three straight, with the first two coming in the final 90 seconds of the period. Jack Williams scored just after a NU power play ended with 1:11 left to cut the lead to 3-2. Northeastern went back on the power play right away after another penalty and Matt Choupani scored with 30 seconds left to tie it up at 3-3. McDonough scored his second of the night just 3:52 into the third period to give Northeastern its only lead of the night.
 
Bauer fired in his first goal of the season to tie it up at 4-4 with 12:46 left to play in the third. Bauer got the puck from Hugh Larkin and shot from the right point. Dylan Wendt also picked up an assist on the game-tying goal.
 
McAllister later hit the post on a power play and Sasson cleaned up the rebound for his seventh goal of the season, giving the Broncos the lead back with 7:26 left to play.
 
Polin completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal with 22 seconds to play.
 
Western Michigan resumes NCHC play and heads on the road next weekend to take on Omaha on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.