Box Score DENVER, Colo. – Western Michigan collected its sixth straight win, defeating No. 7 Denver 4-1 on Friday night at Magness Arena. The win pushed the Brown and Gold to 15-6-0 overall and 7-4-0 in NCHC play.
Liam Vlanete tallied two goals, while Iiro Hakkarainen and Zaccharya Wisdom each lit the lamp once. Hampton Slukynsky saved a career-high 35 shots to earn his 15th win of the season.
FIRST PERIOD
It didn’t take long for the Brown and Gold to get going, as Valente put home a rebound for a 1-0 lead not even a minute into the game. The goal was his 10th of the season.
From there, DU would get the game’s first power play. WMU was sent off for tripping. However, the Pioneers would get just one shot on the man advantage, and the Broncos got back to full strength.
In the back half of the period, Denver would be given two penalties. Samuel Sjolund and Hakkarainen would generate the best chances, but the Pios would work back to even strength. With time winding down in the period, Western Michigan would kill off one more penalty and go to the intermission with a 1-0 advantage.
SECOND PERIOD
Denver got an early chance on the power play, but WMU would be the one getting the scoring chances. Grant Slukynsky broke free for an open look on net, but the DU netminder was able to glove the shot. Western Michigan eventually got back to full strength.
The Pioneers would get another look on the man advantage moments later. The Broncos allowed just one shot and returned to even strength. After a flurry of Slukynsky saves, Grady Gallatin would try his luck on net. His slap shot was saved by Quentin Miller.
Down the stretch, Denver would get yet another chance on the power play. Slukynsky and the penalty killers stood strong, stopping all three shots on net to get back to full strength. With time winding down, Bobby Cowan and Owen Michaels would hit the post. Western Michigan carried its one-goal lead into the third period of play.
THIRD PERIOD
WMU got an early chance on the power play and didn’t waste it. After a Cowan shot from the circle hit Miller, Hakkarainen was able to bat it into the net for a 2-0 lead.
Following that, Western Michigan fired several shots on Miller that he was able to handle. Denver eventually went on the power play, thanks to an interference call. Slukynsky saved both shots on the man advantage, getting the Brown and Gold back to even strength.
Things started to heat up in the back half of the period, as DU had a goal waved off for goaltender interference. DU pulled its goalie with about three minutes to play. WMU was given a boarding penalty, and the Pioneers were able to pull within one.
Down the stretch, Western Michigan would control play, getting a pair of empty-net goals from Valente and Wisdom. The Broncos would close out a 4-1 victory in the series opener.
UP NEXT
The Broncos and Pioneers will wrap up the series tomorrow night at Magness Arena. Puck drop is set for 8 PM ET.
