Western Michigan and its one overall win weren’t supposed to give the eighth-ranked Wolverines much of a fight.

Michigan outplayed the Broncos the first two periods, and dominated defensively, letting up just 13 shots. But a third-period goal with less than five minutes remaining proved the difference in Western Michigan’s 2-1 upset win Friday.

The loss is Michigan’s third Friday night loss in four weekends.

The Wolverines were up 1-0 going into the third, but were unable to score again on Bronco goalie Riley Gill, who saved 33 shots. Both of Western Michigan’s lamp lighters came on defensemen’s shots from just inside the blue line that beat goalie Billy Sauer (15 saves) top shelf.

The first period flew by with just three penalties called between the two teams. Michigan’s penalty-kill unit, led by a strong effort from sophomore Carl Hagelin, looked much better than last week (Alaska scored two power-play goals) and didn’t give up a single shot on goal.

But even though the Wolverine blue liners let up just three shots the entire frame, they were unable to capitalize on the other end of the ice and find the back of the net. Michigan maintained possession in the offensive zone for most of the opening 10 minutes and tallied 11 shots in the period, but most of its better opportunities were limited to wraparound chances.

At the beginning of the second, the Wolverines went back on the penalty kill for nearly four minutes. After that, the period looked just like the first and the offense kept tallying more and more shots, until Michigan broke through on the power play with 8:02 remaining.

Sophomores Chad Langlais and Aaron Palushaj exchanged a few passes between the point and high slot before Langlais fired a slap shot on net. The initial shot was stopped, but Hagelin was able to poke in the short rebound through the goalie’s five hole with a cluster in front of the net. The goal was Hagelin’s second of the season.

The Wolverines kept up their shutdown defense, blocking six shots in the period and allowing just 10 on goal to give Michigan a 1-0 lead going into the third.

But 93 seconds into the third, the Broncos finally threatened Sauer. With a cluster in front of the net, Sauer sprawled out on the ice to the left then had to go to the other post while on his chest to finally cover up the puck with his glove.

On the ensuing faceoff, however, Western Michigan defenseman Kevin Connauton fed alternate captain Tyler Ludwig in the high slot, and the junior ripped a slapshot top right to beat Sauer and tie the game.

With just under 11 minutes remaining, the Bronos showered Sauer with an onslaught of close-up shots again — but the senior goalie hugged the right post and used his blocker to deflect each of Western Michigan’s chances.

Michigan threatened in similar fashion a few minutes later, but Gill stood on his head and stuffed everything thrown his way.

The Broncos finally notched the game winner with 4:22 remaining. Palushaj was trying to bring the puck up the right boards, but Western Michigan freshman defenseman Kevin Connauton stole the puck and fired a wrist shot past Sauer’s right shoulder from just inside the blue line for the goal.

The Wolverines were unable to seriously threaten in the final minutes of the game.

The two teams face off once again tomorrow night in Kalamazoo for the final game of the series.