Western Michigan loses 4-1 at North Dakota and splits the series

KALAMAZOO — Western Michigan lost 4-1 at North Dakota on Saturday and split the weekend series. Friday’s shootout win was the first game of the series.

College Hockey News’s box score lists attendance of 11,622 at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Gavin Lindberg scored at 1:14 of the first, from Ollie Josephson and Cody Croal. Cole Reschny made it 2-0 at 8:42, from Mac Swanson. Croal scored at 7:54 of the second, from Lindberg and Reschny. Adam Benák got Western Michigan’s only goal at 8:23 of the third, from Theo Wallberg, his fifth of the season. Croal’s empty-netter at 17:57 made it 4-1.

Quentin Miller stopped 24 of 27 in 58:35. Jan Špunar stopped 17 of 18 for North Dakota. Shots were 28-18 for the home team, 13-6 in the first. Western Michigan took six penalties for 23 minutes and was 0 for 3 on the power play. North Dakota was 0 for 5 and won 31 of 46 faceoffs. The box lists Western Michigan at 6-2-1. That is one regulation loss after Friday’s tie and shootout win.

What the split means

The shot share

Friday’s extra point and Saturday’s regulation loss are one series, not two seasons. Benák scored in both games. Miller started Saturday and gave up three before the empty net. North Dakota outshot the Broncos 13-6 in the first and 28-18 for the night, and won the faceoff circle 31-15. Western Michigan’s six penalties for 23 minutes are in the same box as the 0-for-3 power play. The box does not list another game in the series, so this story does not add one. The series ended in Grand Forks.

Lindberg’s goal at 1:14 set the tone, and Reschny’s at 8:42 made it 2-0 before Western Michigan recorded a shot that mattered on the scoreboard. Croal’s second-period goal and his empty-netter bookended Benák’s only reply. Miller’s 24 saves came with a penalty kill that spent 23 minutes short. Špunar’s 17 saves were enough because the Broncos managed 18 shots. The series is a win in the shootout and a loss in regulation. Attendance Saturday was 11,622. Western Michigan is 6-2-1. North Dakota took the faceoffs 31-15 and outshot the Broncos 28-18.

The photograph is Lawson Ice Arena, the home rink. It does not show Saturday’s ice.

Sources:
College Hockey News box score, Western Michigan at North Dakota, Nov. 7, 2026, https://www.collegehockeynews.com/box/final/20261107/wmu/ndk/
Photo: Greg-ography from Grass Lake, USA, “Tim Miller (18) and Louie Caporusso (29) (3037483464).jpg”, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ATim_Miller_%2818%29_and_Louie_Caporusso_%2829%29_%283037483464%29.jpg

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Tags: Kalamazoo · Western Michigan · Hockey · North Dakota · NCHC