MENOMONIE (February 18, 2022) - In a high intensity playoff game, UW-Superior (14-10-2, 6-6-1 WIAC) scored the lone goal in the game in the third period. The Blue Devils put on 26 shots on Yellow Jacket's Myles Hektor, but Hektor stopped all 26 shots and earned a shutout. Superior won the opening game 1-0 in the first round of the WIAC Tournament presented by Culvers.
To start the game, both teams came out trying to find the first goal of the game. The first five minutes, UW-Stout (8-18-0, 6-9-0 WIAC) came out and had four shots and the Yellow Jackets had zero shots on net.
But both teams were scoreless after one. Shots after one period were in favor of Stout, 11-7.
In the second period, the game saw its first penalty. Both teams took a penalty at 10:10 of the period and skated four on four. No goals were scored during the four on four play.
The Blue Devils went on their first power play with 3:12 left. With some scoring chances from Stout, Superior used their defense and goaltending to kill off the penalty.
After two periods, the score was still tied 0-0 going into the second intermission. Shots were in favor of the Blue Devils, 18-12.
At 5:47 of the third period, the Yellow Jackets got on the board first when Reed Stark was at the right place at the right time with a ricochet goal. David Kaplan shot the puck and earned an assist on the play.
Stout went on another power play at 7:16 of the period to try and tie the game. But the Blue Devils received a penalty and the game saw four on four action. Superior would then go on a power play for a minute, but the Blue Devils killed off the penalty to skate even strength.
With time ticking down, Stout pulled Cloutier to gain an extra attacker with 1:38 left in the game. With an extra attacker on the ice, the Blue Devils were unsuccessful and the game ended 1-0 in favor of the Yellow Jackets.
Zack Cloutier stopped 23 of Superior's shots. Superior's Myles Hektor stopped 26 saves and earned a shutout.
Up next is another matchup with UW-Superior on Saturday February 18 with puck drop at 7:00 p.m. UW-Stout will need to win Saturday's game to force a Mini Game, which would follow the end of Saturday's game.
