LIVE: #1 Denver at #14 Western Michigan
#14 Western Michigan hosted #1 Denver in men's hockey last night. The Broncos upset the Pioneers 3-0.
The Pioneers have come out seeking revenge tonight. After 1 period, #1 Denver leads #14 Western Michigan. Denver has gotten goals from Jarid Lukosevicius and Matt Marcinew. Will Butcher and Dylan Gambrell have both picked up 2 assists in the first period.
Western Michigan Ben Blacker had a chance to set a new school record for most consecutive shutout minutes. Coming into the game, Blacker needed just 11:55 of shutout hockey to set the record. Unfortunately, Denver found the back of the net just 4:31 into the game on a power play goal.
Denver converted on 2 of 3 power play opportunities in the first period. Denver also outshot Western Michigan 13-8.
Western Michigan got on the board early in the second period with a 4-on-4 goal from Wade Allison. Colt Conrad picked up the assist on the goal.
Denver struck right back with a goal from Colin Staub. Evan Ritt was credited with the assist on the Pioneers third goal of the night.
With 12:48 gone in the second period, Will Butcher beat Ben Blacker with a shot over the right shoulder to extend the Pioneers lead to 4-1. Following the goal, Blacker was pulled from the game and was replaced by Collin Olson.
With 37 seconds left in the period, Logan O'Connnor put in the short handed goal for Denver. Tariq Hammond was awarded the assist on the goal.
For the entire second period, Western Michigan outshot Denver 14-8, but were outscored 3-1. Tanner Jaillet has been phenomenal in goal for Denver stopping 21 of 22 Western Michigan shots.
New football coach Tim Lester has been making several appearances around campus following his introduction this morning. During the second intermission, Lester came out onto the ice to address the fans in Lawson Ice Arena. Lester talked about his return to Kalamazoo and his time as a "Lawson Lunatic" during his time as a student at Western Michigan.
Lawson Ice Arena is packed tonight. The listed capacity is 3,667 and the listed attendance for tonight is 3,466.
Denver strikes two more times quickly early in the 3rd period. Emil Romig found the net on the assist from Adam Plant to make it 6-1. Almost immediately after, Kevin Conley scored with assists from Adam Plant and Evan Ritt.
Western Michigan found the back of the net on a shot from Matheson Iacopelli for his 15th goal of the season. Griffen Molino was credited on the assist to cut the deficit to 7-2.
The final from Kalamazoo - Denver 7, Western Michigan 2. The #1 team in the country did exactly what you would expect the #1 team in the country to do.
The three stars of the game incude:
#1: Will Butcher (Denver)
#2: Tanner Jaillet (Denver)
#3: Dylan Gambrell (Denver)
