MENOMONIE (February 10, 2024) - In the last regular season game, the Blugolds scored a goal in every period to take the final set of games against the Blue Devils.
UW-Stout (10-13-2, 8-7-0 WIAC) went on the power play at 8:13 of the first period, but UW-Eau Claire (16-7-2, 10-4-1 WIAC) killed off the penalty.
The Blugolds used the killed off penalty as momentum as they were the first to strike on the scoreboard. Sammy Martel scored the Eau Claire goal at 11:12 with assists from Quinn Green and Kyler Grundy to make the game 1-0.
After one period, Stout led in shots 12-4.
In the second period, the Blue Devils tied the game at 9:58 of the period when
Jake McAlpine beat the Blugold goalie. The tying goal was assisted by
Kullan Daikawa.
But Eau Claire didn't waste any time to take the lead as Kyler Grundy scored for the Blugolds at 10:28. The goal was assisted by Willy Stauber and Sammy Martel.
At 15:28 of the second period, both teams skated four on four, but no goals were accounted for.
After two periods, Eau Claire led in shots 18-16.
In the third period, no power plays and even strength goals were accounted for.
The Blue Devils took their goalie off with 3:55 left in the period to get an extra man. Stout had a few chances to score, but Blugold's Gutjahr stopped the shots to keep the game at 2-1. It was not until 19:38 of the period when Stauber scored for Eau Claire to make the final 3-1.
Stout's
Tyler Masternak stopped 22 shots while Max Gutjahr got the win and stopped 27 shots.
Up next for the Blue Devils is the WIAC Tournament while they will host Northland College on February 16 and 17 with puck drops at 7 p.m. on their respective dates.
