Strong third-period play, a Minnesota Duluth trademark this season, led the top-ranked Bulldogs to a 5-2 win over No. 8 Western Michigan on Saturday to complete a non-conference sweep at Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich.

The Bulldogs (14-3-3) stretched their school-record unbeaten streak to 16 games (13-0-3) and remained unbeaten on the road (7-0-3).

Chris Casto, Scott Kishel and Mike Seidel scored in a 5:33 span during the first half of the third period to break away from 2-2 tie after two periods. Senior center Jack Connolly assisted on Seidel’s goal to put his point streak to 18 games, fourth best in school history.

“We killed the rest of a penalty to start the third period and then we got going and never looked back. We continued to get better all weekend and our third period (Saturday) was the best of the series,” UMD sophomore winger Joe Basaraba said by phone. “Western Michigan was always on you and didn’t allow much room, but we’ve been strong at the end of most games and try to wear the other team out.”

Said Kishel: “With our depth, we can out-compete most teams. We keep coming at them, rolling four lines and that’s to our advantage.”

UMD, the No. 2 scoring team in Division I, has a 32-14 third-period goal advantage over opponents, including 6-0 against Western Michigan. The Bulldogs won 4-1 Friday and are 4-0 lifetime against the Broncos.

Western Michigan (10-7-5), tied for second in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and an NCAA tournament entry last season, is 6-4-1 at home.

The teams traded goals the first two periods, with UMD coming from behind. Senior winger Derek Roehl connected on a power play, and a delayed penalty, 8:45 into the game for the Broncos, and UMD sophomore J.T. Brown responded less than four minutes later, putting in his own rebound. It was his second goal of the series and eighth of the season.

Chase Balisy’s second goal of the series, and third in three games, came on a power play 2:02 into the second period. It took Travis Oleksuk just 36 seconds to get UMD even on a breakaway past junior goalie Nick Pisellini. Oleksuk, who had the game-winning goal Friday, has 15 goals this season and 39 career goals.

Then UMD took over.

“The third period was outstanding, one of our best of the season,” said UMD coach Scott Sandelin. “This was another tough, physical game and Western Michigan makes you earn every inch.

“Once we got the go-ahead goal (in the third period) I think we got Western out of its game and we were able to take advantage of our chances.”

After being blanked on their first four power plays, the Bulldogs connected 2:34 into the final period as freshman defenseman Casto muscled in a puck from the slot. Defenseman Kishel, from insidce the blue line, and winger Seidel connected 2:48 apart to put the game away.

Senior goalie Kenny Reiter (14-2-3) made 31 saves as UMD was outshot 33-27.

“We learned a lot by playing Minnesota Duluth this weekend. They play fast. They work extremely hard for the full 60 minutes,” Western Michigan coach Andy Murray told the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Gazette. “Our energy throughout the whole game (Saturday) was good. We worked hard right to the 60th minute, but you have to get a little smarter and manage the puck better.

“We were knocking on the door. We can compete with anybody, but it also shows you have to be on top of every game, or you can be beaten by anybody.”

Western Michigan took the only two penalties of the third period Friday and the only third-period penalty Saturday, aiding UMD’s sweep.

UMD stays on the road this weekend at Nebraska-Omaha in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

Minnesota Duluth……………. 1-1-3—5

Western Michigan…………… 1-1-0—2

First period — 1. Western Michigan, Derek Roehl 5 (Chase Balisy, Shane Berschbach), 8:45 (pp); 2. UMD, J.T. Brown 8 (Tim Smith), 12:25.

Penalties — Justin Crandall, UMD (roughing), :32; Luke Witkowski, Western Michigan (tripping), 2:12; Danny DeKeyser, Western Michigan (interference), 5:51; Mike Seidel, UMD (hooking), 7:05; Jack Connolly, UMD (hooking), 8:45; Smith, UMD (checking from behind), 15:21; Berschbach, Western Michigan (high sticking), 19:33.

Second period — 3. Western Michigan, Balisy (Matt Tennyson, Berschbach), 2:02 (pp); 4. UMD, Travis Oleksuk 15 (Wade Bergman), 2:38. Penalties — Joe Basaraba, UMD (boarding), 1:41; Basaraba, UMD (boarding), 2:56; Dane Walters, Western Michigan (tripping), 7:03; Drew Olson, UMD (kneeing), 9:58; Witkowski, Western Michigan (hooking), 15:44; Caleb Herbert, UMD (holding), 19:22.

Third period — 5. UMD, Chris Casto 3 (Herbert, Mike Seidel), 2:34 (pp); 6. UMD, Scott Kishel 3 (Jake Hendrickson, Justin Crandall), 5:19; 7. UMD, Seidel 8 (Connolly), 8:07. Penalty — DeKeyser, Western Michigan (holding), 1:31.

Shots on goal — UMD 6-11-10—27, Western Michigan 9-14-10—33. Goalies — Kenny Reiter (14-2-3), UMD (33 shots-31 saves); Nick Pisellini (4-3-2), Western Michigan (27 shots-22 saves). Power plays — UMD 1-of-6, Western Michigan 2-of-8. Referees —Stephen McInchak, Barry Pochmara. Linesmen — Bruce Vida, Charles Elder. A — 3,225 .