WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Visiting Nichols College broke open a close game by scoring five goals in the third period to come away with an 8-1 victory over Western New England College in an ECAC Northeast men's hockey game Tuesday night at the Olympia Ice Center.

Senior forward Pat Henderson (Marlton, NJ) gave the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead at the 7:04 mark of the opening period with assists from freshman defenseman Pat Kelly (Madison, CT) (his first collegiate point) and sophomore defenseman Nick Klassen (Parker, CO).

The Bison tied the contest at 16:11 of the first period and tallied twice more in the second stanza for a 3-1 advantage.

Western New England College, which dropped a 3-2 overtime decision at Nichols on December 4, falls to 3-13-3 and 0-10-2 in the ECAC Northeast.

Nichols improves to 14-5-2 (7-2-2) after winning its eighth consecutive game. Freshman forward Derek Porter (Bozeman, MT) led the Bison with five assists while freshman forward Rocco Dabecco (South Park, PA) contributed two goals and two assists. 

Game summary: http://www.collegehockeystats.net/0506/boxes/mnicwne1.f07