STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Over the last month, the Yellowjacket men's hockey team has left a lot of points on the table, and as a result, they find themselves in a dogfight to earn a home playoff series when the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) post-season gets underway next weekend.

Heading into play Friday, the Yellowjackets needed two points, coming either via a regulation win or win in overtime or a shootout to solidify their place in the top four. It wouldn't be easy, however, as their opponent was UW-Stevens Point, the team sitting in first place in the conference heading into the final weekend.
 
The Yellowjackets got a lucky bounce for the first time in a long time Friday, but it wasn't enough and the 'Jackets fell to the Pointers 2-1 at K.B. Willett Arena.
 
For the offensively starved Yellowjackets (11-12-1, 6-7-1 WIAC), the loss, coupled with UW-Stout's win over UW-Eau Claire, means UWS will finish either fourth or fifth in the standings.
 
After a scoreless first period, Stevens Point opened the scoring when Owen Dean banged home a rebound just 1:24 into the second period. Stevens Point increased the lead to 2-0 at 15:05 when Cody Moline finished off an odd man rush while shorthanded.
 
A minute later the Yellowjackets finally broke through in the luckiest of ways. Tyler Ryder (Byron Center, Mich./Northstar Christian Academy) entered the Stevens Point zone and just inside the blue line took a shot that missed the net high. The puck hit the glass, bounced back off the top of the net, went off the back of Pointer goaltender Alex Proctor and in for Ryder's second of the year.
 
Jack Boschert (Florissant, Mo./Duchesne) got the start in goal and had a strong night in goal for the Yellowjackets, finishing with 34 saves.
 
Game Notes

• Ryder's goal was unassisted.
• The Yellowjacket penalty kill, which struggled for much of January, has now killed off 14 straight opportunities after shutting down the Pointers on five chances Friday, including a four-minute power play and 59 seconds of a two-man advantage.
• Stevens Point's second goal was the third shorthanded goal the Yellowjackets have allowed this season.
• Gavin Rasmussen (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior) and Jordan Guiney (Victoria, British Columbia/Belmont Secondary School) each had four shots on goal to lead the Yellowjackets.
• Friday was the third time this season Boschert made more than 30 saves in a game.
• The Yellowjackets have been held to one goal or less in 12 games this season.
• No matter what happens in Saturday's games, the Yellowjackets will meet UW-River Falls when the WIAC playoffs start next week. The results will determine, however, if the 'Jackets will be at home or on the road.
• The Yellowjackets need to get two points, or have Northland take two points from UW-River Falls to secure fourth place in the conference standings.
• With the win Friday, UW-Stevens Point clinched the WIAC regular season title.

The Yellowjackets will close the 2023-24 regular season Saturday with the second game of their weekend series with the Pointers. The opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at K.B. Willett Arena.
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