COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Western Michigan hockey team used a three-goal second period to break away from Colorado College in the opening game of this weekend's series. The Broncos defeated the Tigers, 4-1.

After neither team scored in the first period, Ryan McAllister, Zak Galambos and Hugh Larkin lit the lamp in the second. Assists went to Chad Hillebrand, Jason Polin, Cedric Fiedler, Carter Berger and Jack Perbix. Polin would add an empty-net goal in the third period off of a pass from Aidan Fulp. 

Despite a plethora of chances, neither team would light the lamp in the opening 20 minutes. The Broncos held a 7-6 edge in shots on goal. Polin tested the Tigers' goaltender just 20 seconds into the game, getting right to the net for a pair of shots that were sent away. McAllister also had a good look from the left circle that Kaidan Mbereko was able to get a piece of. Down the stretch of the period, WMU kept applying pressure and was rewarded with a power play, as CC's Chase Foley was sent off for cross-checking. 

WMU began the second period with 1:10 left on the man advantage, and McAllister made sure to make the most of it. Carter Berger dropped the puck off to him and the freshman beat Mbereko top shelf on the glove side. The Broncos kept firing shots on net, and moments later McAllister would find another good look in the slot that would ring off the crossbar. 

The offensive onslaught wouldn't stop there, though. After a few good looks, it was a Galambos shot from the corner that snuck its way in for the second goal of the night. Just 30 seconds later, it was Larkin's turn to join the scoring party as he took a two-on-one feed from Perbix and lit the lamp to give the Broncos a 3-0 advantage at the 8:34 mark of the second period. 

Trailing by three goals, the Tigers started to apply a little bit of pressure that was aided by a WMU five-minute major penalty. The best chance came with the Broncos changing, but Rowe was able to stop the initial shot and rebound before WMU was able to clear. Western eventually killed off the penalty and carried a 3-0 lead into the final 20 minutes. 

A few minutes into the last period, an errant WMU pass found the stick of Noah Laba right in front of the goal, and he beat Rowe to get the Tigers on the board. The Broncos tried to respond, as Perbix put a shot on net that was tipped by Mbereko and eventually smothered. After a Max Sasson steal, WMU had another look out front, but Polin's shot from the slot was blocked and sent behind the net. In search of two goals, the Tigers pulled their goalie with just over three minutes remaining. After Rowe blocked a one-timer, Polin was able to hustle down the ice and slide the puck into the empty net. 

Colorado College and Western Michigan will meet again tomorrow night at 8 p.m. The Broncos have now won five straight games, which is their longest winning streak of the season.