KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team improved to 21-8-0 overall and 13-6-0 in NCHC play with a 6-2 victory over Arizona State on Friday night at Lawson Arena. 

Ty Henricks, Garrett Szydlowski, Liam Valente, Alex Calbeck, Owen Michaels and Zaccharya Wisdom all lit the lamp in the triumph. Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves in net to earn the win. 

FIRST PERIOD
WMU got an early chance on the power play and would get a few strong looks on the man advantage. ASU would eventually get back to full strength, but seconds after getting back to 5-on-5, Henricks ripped a shot by the ASU netminder for a 1-0 lead. 

The Brown and Gold would stay on the gas, as Sam Huck dropped a pass to Szydlowski for an open look. He fired a shot into the net for a 2-0 lead not even 10 minutes into the opening frame. 

A little bit later, the Sun Devils would be sent off for too many men on the ice. The Broncos made them pay, as Valente notched his team-leading 17th goal of the season to make it 3-0 in favor of the home team. 

Arizona State would get one back with under six minutes to play in the opening period. However, Western Michigan went right back on the attack, getting another power play with about four minutes left in the frame. 

The Broncos got four shots on net during the man advantage, but ASU would go on to kill off the penalty. WMU carried a two-goal lead into the second period. 

SECOND PERIOD
Arizona State brought the game within one just over two minutes into the second frame, but it was all Broncos from there. Following the goal, Szydlowski had a strong look on net that was saved. A little bit later, Zack Sharp and Tyer MacKenzie nearly padded the lead. 

A little under 10 minutes into the period, WMU was sent off for interference. ASU didn't get many chances on the man advantage, and the Brown and Gold worked back to full strength. 

Down the stretch, Western Michigan did well to hold the offensive zone and was rewarded for that persistence. Slashing in front of the net, Calbeck tipped a puck by the goaltender for his first career goal. That made the score 4-2 in favor of the home team going into the final 20 minutes. 

THIRD PERIOD
WMU was sent off for holding not even a minute into the final frame, but the Broncos did well to limit the chances and got back to full strength. After some back-and-forth action, ASU earned another power play. 

Much like the previous chances, the Sun Devils rarely threatened, and the Brown and Gold easily worked back to even strength. Trailing by two goals, Arizona State pulled its goalie with time winding down. Michaels found some open space and lit the lamp to make it a 5-2 game. 

Moments after that, ASU was given a penalty, sending the home team to the power play. The Broncos cashed in, as Wisdom scored to close out a 6-2 victory at Lawson Arena. 

UP NEXT
The two teams will finish up the series tomorrow night at 6 PM at Lawson Arena.