MENOMONIE, Wis. – In a playoff-type atmosphere with first place on the line, the UW-Stout men's hockey team delivered one of its biggest wins of the season, knocking off rival UW-Eau Claire, 2-1, Friday night at the Fanetti Community Center.
Entering the final regular season series of the WIAC slate two points behind the Blugolds, the Blue Devils (18-5-1, 11-2-1 WIAC) used timely goals and a standout performance from freshman goaltender Sebastian Monaco to leapfrog Eau Claire in the standings. The victory moves Stout one point ahead of the Blugolds and sets up a de facto WIAC regular season championship game Saturday night at 7 p.m.
The win marks Stout's most victories in a season since 2008-09, and the program's 11 conference wins are the most in school history.
First Period
After killing off early special teams action in a chippy opening frame, Stout broke through at 14:58 on a perfectly executed offensive zone faceoff.
Nicolas Pigeon won the draw forward to himself between the opposing center's skates, quickly sliding a pass across the top of the crease to Tristan Therrien, who buried the tap-in for his 10th goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
The goal ignited Eau Claire's best stretch of the night. The Blugolds pushed hard over the final five minutes of the period, firing pucks from all angles, but Monaco stood tall — swallowing rebounds and fighting through traffic to preserve the lead.
Second Period
Eau Claire finally broke through at 6:05 of the second period to even the game at 1-1, capitalizing during sustained offensive pressure. The Blue Devils responded quickly at 10:53, Hayden Stocks worked the puck from below the goal line and found Pigeon in the slot. Pigeon's initial shot was stopped, but he dove forward to corral the loose rebound and buried it for his eighth goal of the year — a gritty finish that proved to be the game-winner.
Moments later, the physicality escalated. The Blue Devils were assessed a five-minute major midway through the period and finished the night with significantly more penalty minutes than Eau Claire. The Blugolds had multiple extended power play opportunities — including a lengthy five-minute advantage — but Monaco and the penalty kill unit turned away every chance.
As the saying goes, your best penalty killer has to be your goalie — and Monaco embodied that throughout the second period.
Third Period
The intensity only increased in the final 20 minutes. Eau Claire continued to press, earning additional power play time and eventually pulling its goalie for the extra attacker in the closing minutes.
Monaco remained composed, finishing with 35 saves, including 16 in the second period alone. Stout defenders sacrificed their bodies down the stretch, blocking shots and clearing rebounds to help secure the one-goal victory.
By The Numbers
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35 – Saves by freshman goaltender Sebastian Monaco in the win.
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16 – Saves by Monaco in the second period alone.
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13:00 – Total time Stout spent killing penalties.
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0-for-7 – Eau Claire on the power play.
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18-5-1 – Stout's overall record, the program's most wins in a season since 2008-09.
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11 – Conference victories, the most in program history.
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2 – Points separating the teams entering the night; Stout now leads by one.
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28-26 – Stout edge in shots on goal in a tightly contested battle.
Up Next
UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire will meet again Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Menomonie with the WIAC regular season championship on the line. With Stout now one point ahead in the standings, the winner of Saturday's matchup will claim the conference crown in what promises to be another playoff-caliber showdown.
