DULUTH, Minn. – The Western Michigan hockey team stayed red hot, defeating Minnesota Duluth, 4-1, Saturday night inside Amsoil Arena. The Broncos have now won nine of their last 10 games and have given up more than two goals just once in that streak. 

Chad Hillebrand got things going off of a nice feed from Cole Gallant to give the Broncos an early 1-0 lead. Just as it did yesterday, WMU scored a shorthanded goal, with Jason Polin sliding a pass to Zak Galambos who fired a shot over the glove of Matthew Thiessen to make the score 2-0 after 40 minutes. Luke Grainger scored for the second night in a row to make it 3-1 and Hillebrand netted his second of the night to slam the door. Cameron Rowe was again excellent, racking up 25 saves 

The Broncos controlled the play in the opening half of the first period, earning two power play chances. WMU came away with one shot on the first man advantage and fired three more on the second chance. None would find the back of the net. Midway through the opening 20 minutes, UMD went to work, holding the puck in the attacking zone for more than two minutes. Rowe would turn away all three scoring chances. 

Moments later, Daniel Hilsendager found Gallant slashing down the right side into the attacking zone. Gallant then slid a pass to a wide open Hillebrand, who ripped a shot past the goaltender from the left circle to put the Broncos up 1-0. Western Michigan continued to carry play in the offensive zone, totaling 10 shots on goal in the period. WMU carried the one-goal lead into the second period. 

The Bulldogs went on the power play early in the second 20 minutes, but it wasn't their offense that found success. For the second night in a row, the Broncos tallied a shorthanded goal, with Polin finding Galambos who beat the goaltender on the glove side to make the score 2-0 in favor of the visitors. WMU held the Bulldogs without a shot on goal during the man advantage. 

Now trailing by two, UMD's leading goal scorer Ben Steeves tried to take matters into his own hands, but Rowe was able to make a nice save to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard. With just under seven minutes remaining in the period, WMU went back on the power play. The Broncos were inches away from a three-goal lead, as Max Sasson rang a shot off the crossbar. That would prove to be the best look, as UMD was able to return to full strength. Western Michigan held the Bulldogs to one shot on goal for the final seven minutes of the period and carried a two-goal lead into the final period. 

Needing two goals to tie the game, UMD came out firing shots at Rowe early in the final period. Luke Mylymok had the best set of looks, with him starting a huge scramble in front of the net. After Rowe gave up a rebound in front, the Bulldogs started swinging away at the puck hoping to make something happen. The Broncos would eventually clear the puck and maintain a two-goal lead. UMD's attack wouldn't slow down, and the Bulldogs thought they got on the board with 11:47 left in the game. However, a goaltender interference penalty took the goal off the board and kept WMU in front 2-0. 

After a flurry of UMD shots midway through the period, Sasson found some open space in front of the goal, but Thiessen was able to make a glove save. As the period progressed, UMD kept firing shots on net to try and find a spark. Will Francis and Owen Gallatin had a pair of shots sent away by Rowe with just over eight minutes to play. 

Down the stretch, UMD kept applying pressure and eventually broke through with 6:22 to play. A two-on-one break turned into a goal for Quinn Olson. However, WMU won the ensuing faceoff, and Luke Grainger found the back of the net to bring the lead back to two (3-1). With that, UMD pulled its goalie, and looked for a pair of goals. But it was the Broncos that were able to score, as Hillebrand added his second goal of the game to secure a 4-1 victory. 

WMU is off next weekend, but the Broncos will return home for a series with Colorado College on Feb. 17-18.