Box Score DULUTH, Minn. – Western Michigan won its eighth straight game, defeating No. 6 Minnesota Duluth 4-3 on Friday night at AMSOIL Arena. The win pushed the Brown and Gold to 17-6-0 overall and 9-4-0 in the NCHC.
Zaccharya Wisdom,
Grant Slukynsky,
William Whitelaw and
Owen Michaels had the goals for the Broncos, while
Hampton Slukynsky made 34 saves in net. Slukynsky made 20 saves in the second period.
FIRST PERIOD
After winning the opening draw, the Broncos went right on the attack. Whitelaw got a clean look on net just over 20 seconds into the game, and Michaels also had an early chance on goal.
Both teams were given minor penalties just over six minutes into the contest, sending things to 4-on-4. The Brown and Gold took advantage of the open ice, as
Iiro Hakkarainen caused a turnover and started a breakaway with Wisdom. Wisdom lit the lamp for his 11th goal of the season.
However, Duluth would strike back, getting a goal about a minute later to tie the game. In the back half of the period, UMD would be sent off for elbowing. Western Michigan would generate a few chances, but the Bulldogs worked back to even strength.
The Broncos kept pushing, taking the lead with under five minutes to play in the period.
Theo Wallberg found Slukynsky open in the slot, and he flipped a shot into the back of the net to help WMU carry a 2-1 lead into the second 20 minutes of play.
SECOND PERIOD
Slukynsky made a trio of saves to start the period before WMU was sent off for too many players on the ice. The Brown and Gold blocked three shots in front of Slukynsky to work back to even strength.
However, a few minutes later, Western Michigan was sent to the box again. This time, hooking was the call. UMD wouldn't threaten and the Broncos returned to full strength. WMU would then get a chance on the man advantage.
Liam Valente nearly added a third goal for the visitors, but UMD was able to keep it out of the net and work back to 5-on-5.
Late in the middle period, Minnesota Duluth would be sent off for slashing. The Brown and Gold fired a few shots toward the net, but Duluth was able to get back to even strength. However, not even 30 seconds later, Western Michigan was able to strike. Wisdom hit Whitelaw skating to the net, and he beat the UMD goaltender to make it 3-1 Broncos.
Slukynsky made two more saves in the closing minutes of the frame, and the visitors carried a two-goal lead into the third period.
THIRD PERIOD
Just seven seconds into the frame, Western Michigan was sent to the penalty box for hooking. The Broncos had no issue get back to even strength, and Duluth was then sent off for tripping just a few seconds later.
Ty Henricks had the best look for the Brown and Gold, ripping a shot off the post with time winding down on the man advantage. The game returned to 5-on-5 with just over 15 minutes to play in the frame.
After a Michaels shot was saved, UMD went back on the power play. The Broncos would limit the Bulldogs to just one shot on net, and the PK unit got back to full strength. With under 10 minutes to play, Michaels put the game out of reach, backhanding a shot into the net for a 4-1 advantage.
Duluth would make things interesting, getting a power-play tally with under two minutes to play. The Bulldogs would then add an extra-attacker goal to make it 4-3 with under a minute left.
The Broncos would calm things down from there and close out their eighth win in a row.
UP NEXT
The two teams will hit the ice again tomorrow night at AMSOIL Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 PM ET.
