By Daniel Levy

Daily Sports Writer

With the score tied at three late in the second period, Michigan forward Brandon Kaleniecki pounced on a loose puck in Western Michigan's zone. The alternate captain passed to senior Andrew Ebbett, who immediately gave the puck right back. Kaleniecki skated in on Western Michigan goalie Daniel Bellissimo and slapped the puck over the Bronco's right shoulder to give the Wolverines a 4-3 lead. The goal proved to be the game winner, and No. 6 Michigan went on to ambush Western Michigan 7-3 and end its three-game winless streak.

Kaleniecki's goal put an end to a wild second period in which the Wolverines (10-6-3 CCHA, 15-9-3 overall) overcame a two-goal deficit to take the lead.

Seven minutes into the period, Ebbett took a pass from defenseman Jack Johnson and skated into Western Michigan's zone. The captain then sent the puck over to an open Chad Kolarik, who fired a shot past a diving Bellissimo to cut the deficit to one.

From his own zone two minutes later, Kaleniecki sent a perfect pass off the boards to a streaking Danny Fardig. The freshman controlled the puck, beat a defenseman and flipped a shot over the shoulder of Bellissimo. The goalie made the initial stop, but couldn't control the rebound, which went off of a Bronco defenseman and into the net.

With the game tied at two, the Wolverines kept the pressure on. Their effort paid off 35 seconds later. Skating six-on-five with a delayed penalty coming to Western Michigan, Johnson flipped the puck to Kevin Porter in front of the net. Porter tipped the puck on net, and, in the resulting scrum, Kolarik banged it home for his second goal of the night - giving Michigan its first lead of the game at 3-2.

"I thought they were going to blow the whistle, because there was a delayed penalty, and I thought they touched it," Kolarik said. "They didn't, and I couldn't believe it, the puck was just sitting there for me, so I shot it. I didn't even see it go in, I just saw the ref point to the net."

But the Broncos (6-12-3, 6-17-4) were not intimidated by the sudden swing of momentum. Skating four-on-four, Western Michigan responded two minutes later with a two-on-one breakaway to tie the game. Bronco forward Jason Moul passed the puck to Brian Bicek, who faked out freshman goalie Billy Sauer and flipped the puck into an open net to tie the game.

Michigan stayed aggressive in the third period, and slowly but surely, it put the Broncos away.

Six minutes into the final frame, Michigan forward David Rohlfs forced a turnover behind Western Michigan's net. Alternate captain T.J. Hensick scooped up the loose puck and sent a pass across to an open Kevin Porter for an easy goal and a 5-3 Michigan lead. Two goals late in the third period, including Fardig's second of the night, made the final score 7-3.

Unlike Saturday night's disappointment when the Wolverines let a two-goal lead over Michigan State slip away in the third period, Michigan was determined to keep playing until the final whistle last night.

"This was a good step, because we were able to finish them," Kaleniecki said. "We got that 5-3 lead again, and we didn't stop. We made sure we buried them."

After a sluggish start, the Wolverines came on strong, outshooting the Broncos 44-20, in a game they had to win if they want to catch No. 1 Miami in the CCHA.

Western Mich. 3
Michigan 7