DULUTH, Minn. – The Western Michigan hockey team got back to its winning ways, earning a 3-2 overtime victory over Minnesota Duluth Friday night inside Amsoil Arena. The Broncos have now won eight of their last nine games. 

Jason Polin got things going with a shorthanded goal to put the Broncos up 1-0 in the first period. After Duluth tied things up, Luke Grainger's power play goal gave WMU the lead back. The Bulldogs tied things up late in the third period, but Max Sasson was able to find the back of the net to give WMU the overtime victory. Cameron Rowe made 32 saves on the night. 

After being shutout in their previous game, the Broncos came out firing offensively. A tripping penalty put the Bulldogs on the power play, but that didn't stop the WMU offense from finding a groove. Polin collected a loose puck and found a wide open path to the net, which he was able to turn into the game's first goal just under four minutes in. As the period progressed, the Broncos were able to kill off the penalty, and they went back on the attack. Just over six minutes in, WMU sent four consecutive shots on net that were sent away. 

UMD took advantage of a Broncos blunder, as they weren't able to clear the puck out of the zone. Ben Steeves fired a shot that initially missed the net, but it bounced off the back wall, hit Rowe and went into the net to tie the game. Down the stretch, each team would pick up a penalty, but neither would convert on the man advantage, sending the game to the second period tied at 1-1. 

As the second period began, the Broncos went to the power play, with Steeves being sent off for slashing. WMU couldn't make the Bulldogs pay, however, mustering just one shot on goal. But Western Michigan would get another chance on the man advantage, and the Broncos didn't take long to make the most of that opportunity. On the first shot of the power play, Grainger found some open space in the right circle and sent a rocket over the glove of Zach Stejskal to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. 

WMU had more good looks as the period continued on, but no one came as close as Max Sasson, who was inches away from giving the Broncos a 3-1 edge. Stejskal made a sprawling save and was just able to keep the puck out of the net. The Bulldogs would fire a shot wide as time ticked down in the second 40 minutes, and WMU carried a one-goal lead into the third period.

The Broncos continued to fire shots at Stejskal, but the junior goaltender settled in and didn't allow a goal in the third period. WMU hit the post three times in the game. Neither team could find a goal throughout most of the period. UMD was forced to pull its goalie to try and find the equalizer, and the Bulldogs would do just that. Quinn Olson collected a loose puck and hammered it into the back of the net to tie the game. The two teams went to overtime tied 2-2. 

The Broncos got the first chance in the extra time, with Polin just missing his second goal of the game. But just minutes later, Sasson was able to corral his own lost puck behind the net and bring it back around to score the game-winning goal. Zak Galambos and Polin were credited with the assists. 

The two teams will be in action tomorrow night, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. eastern time on NCHC.tv and the Bronco Radio Network.