Blue Devils comeback falls short in third period

MENOMONIE (February 8, 2020) - In the final matchup of the year against the Pointers, the Blue Devil's comeback fell short in the third period. Stevens Point scored three times in the first period and four goals in the third to take down UW-Stout (6-16-1, 5-8-0). 

UW-Stevens Point (14-6-3, 8-2-3) came out firing as Zach Zech scored his thirteenth goal of the season just 34 seconds into the game. Less than a minute later, Stevens Point's Austin Kelly scored at the 1:30 mark of the first period to make it 2-0 early in the game. 

The Pointers were not done scoring in the first as Drew McLean scored at 6:21 of the period to make the game 3-0. 

With 5:30 left in the period, Stout had a chance to score as Logan Nelson went on a breakaway, but was stopped by Billing on the shot. Stout had another opportunity with 2:16 left in the period as they went on a power play, but the Pointers penalty kill held the Blue Devils to no goals in the first period. 

In the first period, Stout led the Pointers in shots 9-8. 

At 7:12 of the second period, both teams took a penalty and the game saw a four on four. At 7:27 Stout scored their first goal as Vladislav Sorokin scored his sixth goal the season to put the Blue Devils on the board. Adam Kresl assisted on the play and the score was 3-1. 

At 9:36 of the period, Stout's Raphael Gosselin shot the puck to the net and got it past the Pointer goaltender. Kobe Keller and Evan Butcher assisted on the goal. 

As the Blue Devils were finding their stride, the Pointer's Colin Raver scored to make the game a two goal game again. 

But Stout wasn't fazed as Alex Nagel found an opening and scored to make the game 4-3. Evan Butcher and Connor Chambers got the assists on the goal. 

After two periods, Stout was outshooting the Pointers 27-19. 

In a one goal game, Stout was looking to tie the game, but the Pointers scored only 16 seconds into the period. Luke McElhenie scored his fourteenth goal of the season and the game was back to a two goal game. 

At 8:15 of the third period, Stevens Point's Brennan Miller scored to make it 6-3. 

The Pointer's added two more goals in the period. At 10:25, Colin Raver scored his sixth goal and at 14:13 Ryan MacKellar scored to make the final 8-3. 

Eli Billing started and stopped nine saves and Ryan Wagner stopped 20 of the Blue Devil shots. Evan Bisek started in net for Stout. Brady Meyers finished the game and had 27 saves. 

Up next for the Blue Devils is a home matchup between UW-Superior on Thursday, February 13. Game time start is at 7:00 p.m.