Blugolds score three goals in first period, down Blue Devils 5-1

UW-Eau Claire 5, UW-Stout 1 | Archived Video | Photo Gallery

MENOMONIE (February 19, 2015) - UW-Eau Claire scored three first period goals on their way to a 5-1 win over UW-Stout Thursday at the Fanetti Community Center.

The Blugolds (16-6-2, 8-3-0 WIAC) wasted no time getting on the board when Jake Hopfner scored 1-minute, 8-seconds into the contest. Eau Claire scored twice in the final five minutes of the period with Adam Knochenmus scoring at 15:38 and Ethan Nauman scoring on the power play with five seconds remaining in the period.

Eau Claire's Todd Kortzinsky scored 1t 13:38 of the second period and Jack Callahan scored on the power play three minutes into the third period.

The Blue Devils (8-15-1, 3-8-0 WIAC) did break up the shutout when Joey Haydock (So, Junction City) scored at 5:24 of the third period, getting assists by Justin Moody (Grand Forks, ND) and Danny Ray (Grand Forks, ND).

Stout outshot Eau Claire, 13-8, in the first period, but the Blugolds held the advantage the rest of the way, outshooting Stout 8-3 in the second and 22-11 in the third. Eau Claire held the final edge, 38-27.

Chase Hollander (So, Random Lake) took the loss for Stout before he was knocked out of the game six minutes into the second period, allowing three goals and making six stops. Spencer Viele (So, Wildwood, Mo) came on after Hollander was taken to the locker room to be attended to. Viele allowed the final two goals and recorded 27 saves, 21 in the final period.

The game featured 11 penalties, six on Stout, five on Eau Claire. The Blugolds were 2-of-5 on the power play, while Stout was 0-of-4.

Stout will host UW-Superior, Friday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the final regular season game of the year, then will host the Yellowjackets, Tuesday, Feb. 24 in the first round of the WIAC Tournament at 7:30 p.m.