MENOMONIE (February 17, 2023) - UW-Stout (16-9-1) scored two goals in the second period to help lift them in the first round of the WIAC Hockey Tournament against the Falcons.
It only took UW-River Falls (11-14-1) 1:49 into the game to get on the board first. Arsenii Smekhnov scored for the Falcons with an assist from Connor McGrath.
At 7:42 of the first period, Stout evened up the score when
Kullan Daikawa scored his sixth goal of the year. The goal was assisted by
Brendan Boyce and
Trenten Heyde.
The first power play was rewarded to the Falcons at 14:12, but Stout held on and killed off the penalty.
At the end of one period, River Falls was leading in the shot category 11-9.
To start the second period, Stout went on a power play just 11 seconds into the period.
The Blue Devils capitalized on the man advantage and broke the tie at 1:01 of the second period. The goal was scored by
Jacob Halvorson, his 13th of the year. The power play goal was assisted by
Matt Dahlseide to make the game 2-1.
At 7:04 of the second period, Stout made the game 3-1 when
Matt Dahlseide scored his seventh goal of the year with assists from
Cole Beckstead and
Gunner Moore.
Both teams went on a power play, River Falls at 8:44 and Stout at 14:26, but both power plays were unsuccessful.
At the end of the second period, shots were in favor of River Falls 21-18.
To begin the third period, Stout went on another power play. But the Falcons killed the penalty.
River Falls went on their own power play at 5:44 of the period, but Stout once again killed off the penalty to skate full strength.
At 12:10 of the third period, the Blue Devils went on their fifth power play of the game. During the power play, River Falls had a breakaway chance, but
Tyler Masternak stoned him and the game remained 3-1. The Falcons ended up killing the penalty.
At 15:54 of the period, Blue Devil's
Noe Perez scored his third goal of the year to have Stout go up four goals. The goal was assisted by
Max Techel and
Cole Beckstead.
At the end of the game, Stout's
Tyler Masternak stopped 33 shots and got the win. Falcon's Dysen Skinner recorded 23 saves.
The Blue Devils will return home tomorrow, February 18 to face River Falls in game two of the first round of the WIAC Hockey Tournament. Puck drops at 7:00 p.m.
