UW-Stout 4, UW-Stevens Point 1
MENOMONIE (February 24, 2021) - Three first period goals, good goaltending, and good defense were the keys to success tonight as UW-Stout (4-3-0, 4-3-0) upended the Pointers, 4-1. It's the first time the Blue Devils have beaten UW-Stevens Point (3-3-0, 3-3-0) since February 8, 2014 and broke a 14 game losing streak against the Pointers.
In the first period of the game, both teams were figuring each other out as there was only 1 shot in the first six minutes. At the three minute mark, the first shot was made by UW-Stevens Point.
But on the second shot for the Blue Devils,
Peter Verstegen scored the first goal of the game at the 6:59 mark of the period. The goal was assisted by
Matt Dahlseide to make the game 1-0.
Stout had their first chance at the power play at 12:45 of the period, but the Pointers penalty kill did enough to keep the game at 1-0.
At 16:41 of the period, Blue Devil's
Raphael Gosselin beat Stevens Point's goalie to go up 2-0.
Kobe Keller and
Alex Nagel had the assists on the goal.
The Blue Devils weren't done scoring in the period. Less than two minutes later, Stout's
Logan Nelson scored his team-leading fourth goal of the year to make it a three score game in favor of the Blue Devils. The goal was assisted by
Raphael Gosselin.
Shots on the period were in favor of the Blue Devils 9-7.
In the second period, Stevens Point did not back down. It only took the Pointers 26 seconds into the period to get on the scoreboard. Pointer's Colin Raver got them on the board with assists from Zach Zech and Nick Gonrowski.
The rest of the period saw a lot of shots, but no goals. Stevens Point went on a penalty with 2:18 left in the period, but Stout held on tight with their penalty kill to keep the game at 3-1.
The third period saw a lot of action, but no goals until an empty net goal by the Blue Devils only 1:12 left in the game. The Pointers pulled their goalie to get an extra attacker with 1:39 left in the game, but Blue Devil's
Kobe Keller took a half ice shot and hit the back of the net. Assists on the play were
Alex Stuckert and
Alex Nagel. The game ended with Stout beating the Pointers, 4-1.
Stout's
Brennan Kitchen earned the win and recorded 28 saves on the night. Eli Billing finished with 20 saves.
Up next for Blue Devil hockey is another matchup with the Pointers away in Stevens Point.
