MENOMONIE (February 3, 2023) - UW-Stout (15-7-1, 6-6-1 WIAC) had opportunities to tie the game late, but a UW-Superior (14-7-2, 9-3-1 WIAC) empty net goal sealed the game with 1:26 left in the game.
In the first period, both teams came out flying to secure the series win. At 10:29 of the period, Stout was assessed with a five minute major and would go on the penalty kill for the next five minutes.
The Blue Devils almost killed off the full five minutes, but with five seconds left in the major penalty, Yellowjacket's Colton Friesen scored on a back door goal. The goal was assisted by Macgregor Sinclair and Collin Pederson at 15:24 of the period.
At the end of the first period, shots were in favor of Superior 13-7.
At 1:03 of the second period, Superior went on a power play. But at 1:25, the Yellowjackets took a penalty to skate four on four. For 22 seconds, Stout went on a power play, but Superior killed off the penalty.
At 11:20 and 16:11, the Blue Devils had power play chances, but both penalties were killed off.
With 57 seconds left in the period, both teams took penalties and the game saw four on four hockey.
After two periods, Stout led in shots 19-17.
To start the third period, both teams skated four on four for 1:04. No goals were accounted for during the four on four play.
At 4:56 of the period, Superior scored to make it 2-0 when Conor Maclean scored with an assist from Tyler Ryder.
Stout went on a power play opportunity at 9:28 of the period. This time, Blue Devil's
Gunner Moore scored his fifth goal of the year. The power play goal was assisted by
John Jebamani and
Matt Dahlseide at 10:17.
The Blue Devils tried to crawl their way back to tie the game sending Kitchen to the bench to get an extra man with 2:16 left in the game.
But Superior scored an empty net goal with 1:26 left in the game when Gavin Rasmussen scored with assists from Charles Martin and Sam Sterne to make the final 3-1.
Blue Devil's
Brennan Kitchen finished the game with 24 saves. Superior's Myles Hektor stopped 31 Stout shots.
Up next for the Blue Devils is an away matchup between UW-Eau Claire on February 10 with a puck drop at 7:00 p.m.
