Box Score
Stout 4, Yellowjackets 1
Box Score
Sometimes there are games when things just don't go your way. On Friday night that was the case for the Yellowjacket men's hockey team, whether it was a shot getting blocked, a pass getting tipped and going right to the opposition or funny bounces in the defensive zone that ended up in the back of the net, things just didn't go their way.
UW-Stout scored twice in the first period and added two more in the second period as they defeated the Yellowjackets 4-1 at Dunn County Arena in Menomonie, Wis.
The loss was just the second of the year for the Yellowjackets (5-2-0, 3-2-0 NCHA) and snapped their winning streak at five games.
The Blue Devils opened the scoring early in the first period with a pair of power play goals. With Nick Drill (Madison, Wis./Waunakee) off for checking from behind, Drew Strandberg (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Westgate CV&I) made a pair of saves in tight, but Sam Carr slid the third chance underneath him to get Stout on the board at 4:46 of the period. It was the first power play goal scored against the Yellowjackets in their last 16 chances. It went to 2-0 at 15:58 when Garrett Grimstad snapped a shot from the right circle that beat Strandberg up high.
Stout made it a 3-0 game at 6:12 of the second when a funny bounce off the end boards found Zach Vierling in front and he tapped home his first of the year. Later in the period Kevin O'Donnell tipped a bad-angle shot that eluded Strandberg at 14:21 to make it a four-goal bulge.
The Yellowjackets were finally able to break through late in the third period when, while on a two-man power play, Jeff Forsythe (Campbell River, British Columbia/Timberline Secondary) fired a shot from between the circles that beat Stout goaltender Nick Hopper to make it 4-1. It was the second goal of the season for Forsythe, who got assists from Joey Massingham (Duncan, British Columbia/Cowichan Secondary) and Pat Dalbec (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) at 14:39.
For Dalbec, the assist stretched his scoring streak to seven games.
Special teams were the story, as the Yellowjackets were given more than ample opportunities with the man advantage, but for the most part came up dry, going 1-for-12. UW-Stout made the most of their power plays, all of which came in the first period, going 2-for-3.
The Yellowjackets took four penalties for eight minutes, while Stout was whistled 13 times for 26 minutes.
Strandberg was tagged with his first loss of the season, finishing the game with 13 saves. At the other end, Hopper was strong, making 32 stops in picking up his third win of the season.
The two teams will play the second game of their weekend series on Saturday, November 17. Game time at Wessman Arena is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and it can be heard live on 91.3 FM KUWS beginning with the pre-game show at 6:40 p.m. If you are outside the local listening area, a free audio stream is available through the iFan Sports Network. A live, pay-per-view video stream is available through UW-Superior's online partner AmericaOne. Jon Garver will be on the call.
