Stevens Point Routs Yellowjackets

Cory Simons made 19 saves at Stevens Point Saturday.

Box Score

Stevens Point 7, Yellowjackets 0

Friday night at UW-Stout the Yellowjackets got a chance to experience something they hadn't felt in more than a month - the exhiliration that comes with victory. The win over the Blue Devils snapped a nine-game losing skid and eased a great deal of the pressure that the team was feeling.

The exhiliration was short-lived.

UW-Stevens Point, spurred by four goals in a stretch of 4:09 in the first period, took all the drama out of the regular season finale early, blanking the Yellowjackets 7-0 before a capacity crowd at K.B. Willett Arena Saturday night.

The first period started out good, with both teams getting chances, and in the early going the Yellowjackets held a territorial advantage. The Yellowjackets were given the first power play of the game midway through the opening period, and that's where the complexion of the game changed.

Stevens Point grabbed the 1-0 lead at 12:29 of the first period when Lawrence Cornellier picked up the rebound of a Scott Henegar shot and put it past Yellowjacket goaltender Bryce Fink (Tacoma, Wash./Keystone). At 14:12 it went to 2-0 when Drew Graves got a rebound at the foot of the goal crease and, after having his first attempt stopped, sent his second attempt over Fink for his third goal of the year. Just over a minute later it became 3-0 when Kyle Sharkey sent a pass from the right wing to the slot, and Joe Kalisz one timed it over Fink's shoulder.

The third goal spelled the end of the night for Fink, who was lifted after giving up three goals on seven shots. Cory Simons (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) replaced Fink, but he didn't fare much better. The first shot he faced came on the power play, and it, too, ended up in the back of the net. Garrett Ladd took a pass in the right circle and he beat Simons to give the Pointers a 4-0 lead after one period.

To start the second period the Yellowjackets were down two skaters for the first 38 seconds. They killed the penalties off and had a good opportunity shortly after, as Anton Svensson (Soldertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) was sprung on a breakaway, but his attempt was turned aside by Pointer goaltender Brandon Jaeger.

At 8:14 of the second period Kyle Sharkey scored from the left of the goal, pushing the Pointer lead to 5-0. It went to 6-0 in the final minute of the period, with Kevin Gibson snapping a shot from the high slot past Simons with just 46 seconds left in the middle frame.

The Pointers closed out the scoring at 4:50 of the third period when Alex Kromm scored on a wraparound.

Several Pointer players had big games. Gibson had a four-point game with a goal and three assists. Sharkey had a goal and two assists, while Henegar had four assists.

Jaeger earned the victory, his 20th of the season as well as his fifth shutout by making 26 saves. Simons made 19 saves in relief of Fink, who was tagged with the loss. Fink has been a hard-luck goaltender this season, with his record falling to 2-6-0 on the year. The Yellowjackets have scored just 13 goals in Fink's eight games. That number is deceiving, however, as six of those goals came in one contest.

The Yellowjackets took five penalties for 10 minutes, while the Pointers took four for eight minutes. The Yellowjackets were scoreless in three power play chances, while the Pointers were 1-for-5 on the man advantage.

With the end of the regular season, the Yellowjackets (9-16-0, 1-11-0 WIAC) turn their attention to the WIAC playoffs. They open post-season play Tuesday, February 24 when they travel to Menomonie, Wisconsin to take on UW-Stout at Dunn County Arena. The opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game can be heard live on 91.3 FM in Superior beginning with the pre-game show at 7:15 p.m. If you are outside the local listening area you can tune in online through the iFan Sports Network. Jon Garver will have the call.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Anton Svensson: F; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#1 Bryce Fink: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#30 Cory Simons: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#11 Anton Svensson
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: F

#1 Bryce Fink
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#30 Cory Simons
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

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Stevens Point Routs Yellowjackets

Players Mentioned

#11 Anton Svensson

#1 Bryce Fink

#30 Cory Simons

Players Mentioned

#11 Anton Svensson

#1 Bryce Fink

#30 Cory Simons