DENVER, Colo. – Western Michigan extended its win streak to seven with a 6-2 victory over No. 7 Denver on Saturday night at Magness Arena. The win pushed the Broncos to 16-6-0 overall and 8-4-0 in NCHC play. 

Owen Michaels and William Whitelaw each had two goals, while Iiro Hakkarainen and Ty Henricks had one. Hampton Slukynsky made 35 saves in net to earn the victory. Those 35 saves matched a career-high. 

FIRST PERIOD
Denver got out in front early, lighting the lamp 35 seconds into the game. However, WMU would earn the game's first power play a few minutes later. After winning the draw, the Brown and Gold moved the puck around to Whitelaw, who hammered a shot into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. 

Midway through the period, DU would get a chance on the man advantage. Slukynsky would save all three shots and get the team back to even strength. With about seven minutes to play in the period, the Pioneers would be sent off for hooking.

On the power play, Zach Nehring would get the best look on net. However, the Pios would get back to full strength. With time winding down in the period, Whitelaw caused a turnover in the offensive zone, leading to a second goal for the Broncos. Michaels fired a shot top shelf for a 2-1 lead going into the intermission. 

SECOND PERIOD
After a few Slukynsky saves in the opening minutes, the Broncos went on the attack. Theo Wallberg zoomed into the zone and dropped a pass off to Michaels, who beat the netminder for a 3-1 lead just over seven minutes into the middle frame. 

Just over a minute later, WMU did well to collect the puck in the offensive zone, and Zaccharya Wisdom found a wide open Hakkarainen out front. He dangled and backhanded the puck into the back of the net to give the visitors a 4-1 advantage. 

The Brown and Gold weren't done there, as Henricks joined the party a few minutes later. Wallberg had a shot stopped out front, and Henricks was there to clean up the rebound. The tally made it 5-1 Broncos with a little over eight minutes to play in the period. 

Late in the period, WMU was sent to the box for holding. Denver would cash in on the power play, making the score 5-2 as the two teams went to the final period of play. 

THIRD PERIOD
Bobby Cowan and Garrett Szydlowski had early looks for the Broncos, but DU was there to keep it a three-score game. A little bit later, Sam Huck and Wallberg had shots saved from dangerous areas. 

With about 12 minutes to play, Denver pulled its goalie, and the Brown and Gold promptly fired a shot into the net to make it 6-2. Whitelaw earned his 14th tally of the season on the play. 

WMU didn't take its foot of the gas, getting a great scoring chance from Jamison Sluys with less than 10 minutes to play. DU went to the power play with five minutes to play, but Western Michigan had no trouble getting back to even strength. 

With time winding down, the Pioneers threatened with a few shots on net, but Slukynsky and the defense stood tall and closed out a 6-2 victory. 

UP NEXT
The Brown and Gold will be off next weekend and will return to the ice on Jan. 23-24 at Minnesota Duluth.