Bronco Hockey Prepares for Buckeyes

The Western Michigan Broncos are on the road this weekend as they face the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes are 3-6-1 overall and 2-3-1-1 in the CCHA.  Ohio State is coming off of a split with Northern Michigan where they lost the first game 1-0, but rebounded to win the second game 5-4.

Despite the Buckeyes’ record, they are a very good team.  Just by looking at their win-loss record, Ohio State seems to play to the level of their competition.  They have a win over Denver but were swept by Quinnipiac.  They beat Notre Dame in a shootout, but split with Lake Superior State.  The Buckeyes have the talent to be a top four team in the CCHA, they just have to put it all together.

Dustin Carlson came on last year in relief of Joe Palmer for the Buckeyes and was sensational.  Carlson went 21-12-3 with four shutouts.  This year has been the complete opposite.  Carlson is 0-5-0 but has good numbers as far as save percentage and goals against average goes. 

Ohio State is eventually going to get on the right track.  They have too much talent not to get on the right track.  Western Michigan is going to have their hands full this weekend.

The Broncos are 5-2-1 and 1-2-1-1 in the CCHA.  The Broncos could pass Ohio State in the CCHA this weekend with a sweep.  Riley Gill will have to be on his game and guys like Max Campbell and J.J. Crew are going to have to get things going.

Crew has been held off of the scoresheet since the opening weekend of the season.  He did score the shootout game winner last weekend, but that does not count towards his point totals. 

Campbell is the Broncos’ best pure goal scorer but he has just one goal in his last six games.  That trend needs to change if the Broncos are going to beat the Buckeyes this weekend.

Max Campbell

Photo Courtesy of NY Daily News

The line of Cam Watson, Chris Clackson, and Ian Slater has been very effective in all situations for coach Jim Culhane.  This line’s physical play and ability to play special teams helps create mismatches in the Broncos’ favor.

The games this weekend are in Columbus with different start times both nights.  Friday’s game starts at 7:05 ET and Saturday’s game has been pushed back to 8:05 ET.

VS.

Broncos Outlast Lakers

I wasn’t able to go to this one because I was lucky enough to get tickets to the Michigan State football game, but I was pleased to hear that the Broncos earned the close win.

Ian Slater opened the scoring for the Broncos with six minutes to play in the first period.  Cam Watson and Chris Clackson had the assists.  The goal for Slater was his second in as many nights against the Lakers.

The second period was scoreless, with the Broncos firing 24 shots on goal in the frame.  Riley Gill made 17 stops in the second period.

Patrick Nagorsen scored his first goal of the season from Trevor Elias and Luke Witkowski.  The goal came 59 seconds into the third period.

The Lakers answered back Chad Nehring scored with 9:59 to play.

Gill held the Lakers off for the remainder of the third period as the Broncos went on to win by a score of 2-1.

The Broncos head to Columbus to take on the struggling Ohio State Buckeyes next Friday and Saturday with a 7:05 ET start both nights.

 

Broncos Win a Thriller

The Western Michigan Broncos won a tight game in a shootout, 4-3 over the Lake Superior State Lakers Friday night.

The Broncos got three early goals from Jared Katz, Max Campbell, and Ian Slater to make the game 3-0 in the first period.

The Lakers fought back and scored a second period goal and two third period goals, including the game tying goal with 6.8 seconds left in regulation.

The tying goal for the Lakers was a pretty weak goal to give up.  Fred Cassiani took a turn around shot from the corner and it went in through Jerry Kuhn‘s legs. 

Kuhn made up for it as he stopped three Lakers in the shootout.

J.J. Crew was the hero as he deked left and went five-hole on Brian Mahoney-Wilson to give the Broncos the 4-3 win. 

The Broncos improve to 5-3-0 on the season and will take another shot at the Lakers tomorrow night at Lawson Ice Arena.

My recap: http://www.insidehockey.com/columns/4860

 

Jerry Kuhn

Photo Courtesy of Photo Shelter