TEMPE, Ariz. – Western Michigan battled back to earn a 4-3 overtime victory over No. 12 Arizona State on Saturday night at Mullett Arena. The Broncos improved to 23-6-1 overall and 16-3-1 in NCHC play with the victory.
Zach Nehring, Zack Sharp, Liam Valente and Iiro Hakkarainen tallied goals for the Brown and Gold, while Hampton Slukynsky collected the win in net with 33 saves.
FIRST PERIOD
Slukynsky made some strong saves in net to open the game, stopping three shots in the opening four minutes. ASU would eventually get on the board, as a shot from the point got through traffic and into the back of the net.
From there, WMU started to control play, with Alex Bump and Tristan Lemyre getting high-quality chances on net. In the back half of the first frame, WMU was sent off for tripping. On the penalty kill, it would be the Broncos who got the lone shot. Sharp fired a shot from center ice that fluttered through the crease. Western Michigan eventually got back to full strength.
Down the stretch, Grant Slukynsky and Bump had chances from the slot saved by ASU’s goaltender. The Sun Devils carried a one-goal lead into the second frame.
SECOND PERIOD
WMU came out on the attack to start the second frame, getting a goal just over a minute in. Slukynsky fired a shot on net that was blocked away to the stick of Nehring. He pushed it in to tie the game at 1-1. The goal was his 10th of the season.
A little over a minute later, ASU was sent off for slashing. Samuel Sjolund had a shot saved and Liam Valente hit the post on the man advantage. Eventually, Western Michigan would commit a penalty of its own, moving the game to 4-on-4.
After each team got back to full strength, ASU took the lead back, scoring just over nine minutes into the period. Western Michigan went on to control much of the play down the stretch. Valente and Bump each had a pair of looks in the back half of the period saved by ASU’s goaltender.
Both teams were given roughing penalties at the end of the frame. The Sun Devils carried a one-goal lead into the third 20 minutes of play.
THIRD PERIOD
Just as it did in the second period, Western Michigan was able to even the score early in the third frame. Playing 4-on-4, Sharp got a drop pass from Bump and did the rest. He made a nice move out front and beat the goaltender to tie the game at 2-2 just over a minute into the period.
A few minutes later, Arizona State was able to grab the lead back. Following that, it was all Broncos. In the middle part of the period, Slukynsky and Hakkarianen had shots saved. Then, Valente was able to bury home a shot from the slot to tie the game with seven minutes to play in regulation.
WMU committed a penalty with about six minutes left. The top penalty kill in the country was able to kill off the power play, allowing just two shots. About 20 seconds later, ASU committed a penalty, giving WMU a look on the man advantage. Despite some quality chances, the Sun Devils got back to full strength and forced overtime.
OVERTIME
In the extra session, both teams traded blows. Bump hit the post and had another shot saved. Slukynsky made three saves in the extra session before a Washe hit led to a breakaway for Hakkarainen. He walked in on net and backhanded a shot over the shoulder of the ASU goaltender to help the Broncos pick up a 4-3 victory.
UP NEXT
WMU will return home for a series with North Dakota. Friday’s series opener is set for 7 PM EST at Lawson Arena.
