Justin Dade – Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The No. 10 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team won their fourth game in a row to solidify their recent jump in the rankings with a big 4-1 win over the Northland College Lumberjacks on Tuesday night at Hobbs Ice Arena.
The Blugolds started slow in this one committing two consecutive penalties that resulted in a power-play goal scored by Petter Bulling to give the Lumberjacks the early 1-0 lead with 11:06 left in the period.
UW-Eau Claire would find their legs after that point as they began to move the puck quicker utilizing their perimeter speed as an advantage. Alex Strand (Fr. – Roseau, MN) hauled in a perfect pass from alternate captain Patrick Moore (Sr. – Grand Rapids, MN) and buried it home to make it 1-1 in response to the strong Northland start. Jason Eddy (Sr. – Woodbury, MN) got the second assist on Strand's second goal as a Blugold.
UW-Eau Claire got a power play of their own and capitalized as Kyle Lee (Jr. – Wausau, WI) tipped in a shot from the blue line from Logan Von Ruden (Fr. – Northfield, MN) to make it 2-1 with under two minutes left. Colton Wolter (Jr. – Fairbanks, AK) got the second assist on Lee's second goal of the season.
The Blugolds managed to overcome the slow start to lead 2-1 after one period of play leading in both shots on goal and face-off wins.
The game increased in physical play in a second period that featured four total penalties. The Blugolds made Northland pay on one of those penalties as Wolter delivered an absolute dime to Moore on the back door who put it past Lumberjack goalie AJ Smith for his sixth goal of the year at the 11:17 mark of the middle frame.
With the two power-play goals in this one, the Blugolds eclipsed the 30% mark with the man advantage for the season (12-36).
UW-Eau Claire held a 26-17 shots-on-goal advantage after two periods of play.
The Blugolds added a final goal in an otherwise very quiet period on a shot from Wolter assisted by Lucas Kohls (Jr. – Forest Lake, MN) at the 14:45 mark of the final period to make it 4-1. Kohls now leads the team in assists with nine.
UW-Eau Claire would go on to win with that final score dominating in final shots on goal 40-23.
Wolter was active in this one earning a point for the fourth straight game. The junior forward now has eight points in those last four games.
Goaltender Jay Deo (Sr. - Langley, British Columbia) made his ninth straight start and saved 22 of the 23 shots he faced in the win to improve to 6-1-2 on the season.
The Blugolds (6-1-2) will now ride their four game winning streak into the Thanksgiving holiday break before returning to action Dec. 1 and Dec. 3 to open WIAC play against UW-Stout and UW-River Falls.
Follow the action all year long on Blugold Game Day.
