Comeback falls short as Yellowjackets knock off Stout in overtime

UW-Superior 4, UW-Stout 3 (OT) | Archived Video | Photo Gallery

MENOMONIE (February 24, 2015) - Craig Lindegard 's (So, Hallock, Minn) goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation pushed the game into overtime, but UW-Stout came up just short when UW-Superior scored nearly seven minutes into overtime in a WIAC first round playoff game Tuesday at the Fanetti Community Center.

The Yellowjackets' (9-16-1) Anton Svensson scored at 6:49 of overtime to give Superior the 4-3 win and the right to advance to the semi-final round where they will face top-seeded UW-Stevens Point, Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28.

The loss put the damper on a valiant comeback by the Blue Devils (8-18-0), whose season came to an end with the loss.

Superior took the first lead of the game with less than four minutes left in the first period when Jordan Shockley scored unassisted at 16:35 in the first. The Yellowjackets doubled the score two minutes into the second period on a goal by Cody Hotchkin.

The Blue Devils got on the board midway through the second period when Danny Ray (Jr, Grand Forks, ND) scored on a 4-of-4 situation to cut the lead in half at 2-1. Superior moved back out to a two goal, 3-1 lead when Jordan Neduzak scored on the power play at 17:13 of the second period.

Tate Rusk launched a shot the found the back of the net at 7:06 of the third period and Stout had new life trailing by one goal.

Stout was able to pull goalie Spencer Viele (So, Wildwood, Mo) with about a minute left to put the extra attacker on the ice. The Blue Devils were able to dodge one empty net bullet when Superior's Svensson threw the puck towards Stout's wide open goal and hit the north pipe.

Seconds later, Lindegard took a pass from Justin Moody (So, Grand Forks, ND), took the shot and picked up the rebound and buried the puck to send the game into overtime.

At 6:49 of the 20-minute overtime period, Svensson came across the crease and hit the game-winner.

Shots were even, with Superior putting 39 shots on net and Stout had 38. Viele finished with 35 saves, as did Superior's Bryce Fink.