If the Western Michigan Broncos want to earn their first ever NCAA hockey tournament victory on Saturday, they will need to put together one heck of a third-period comeback at the in Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. That's because the Broncos trail the North Dakota Fighting Sioux, 2-1, heading into the final 20 minutes of their first-round contest. The winner advances to the regional final on Sunday to face either the Minnesota Golden Gophers or Boston Terriers.
Western Michigan has already started its rally, as it trailed 2-0 but trimmed the margin to one goal after the Broncos' Kyle O'Kane scored with about seven minutes to go in the second period. O'Kane's goal was assisted by Derek Roehl and Dan Dekeyser.
Soon after O'Kane's tally, around the six-minute mark, Western Michigan had a chance to knot the contest at two. However, a breakaway opportunity was spoiled when North Dakota's Brock Nelson slid into his own net, knocking the goal off its mark before the Broncos' shot crossed the goal line. The goal was reviewed but disallowed. In the NHL, the tally would have been good.
North Dakota's Corban Knight also netted a second-period goal and helped the Fighting Sioux take a 2-0 lead. Michael Parks scored in the first six minutes of the first period to give North Dakota a 1-0 advantage.
Overall, both teams are 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Fighting Sioux have outshot the Broncos, 21-19.
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