The fifth nationally ranked UW-River Falls men's hockey team dominated the visiting UW-Stout Bluedevils in a 7-3 victory on Thursday evening thanks to multi-point evenings from six Falcons.

Sophomore forward Mitch Kontny (two goals), senior captain forward Blake Huppert (one goal, one assist), sophomore forward Taylor Burden (three assists), sophomore forward Mike Fazio (one goal, one assist), freshman forward Kyle Gattelaro (one goal, one assist) and sophomore defenseman Jeff Bergh (three assists) all stood out for the unbeaten Falcons. UWRF scored at least two goals in each period on Thursday evening.

Falcons junior goaltender Tanner Milliron (8-0) made the game's first semi-difficult save four minutes into the first period on a wrist shot from the top of the circle from Bluedevils sophomore forward Joey Haydock. Milliron used his right pad to direct the shot into the corner.

Kontny broke the scoreless tie just 5:51 into the first period after a nifty drop pass from Burden. Kontny took the drop pass a rifled a wrist shot past the glove of Bluedevils sophomore goaltender Spencer Viele (2-4-1). Kontny's third goal of the season was also assited by Bergh.

Falcons junior forward Mike Williams and Gattelaro both misfired on breakaway opportunities around the time of Kontny's opening tally. Williams rang a wrist shot off the right post and Gattelaro missed over the crossbar. The Falcons were swarming the Bluedevils after the Kontny goal, which came on UWRF's first shot of the contest. After opening the period with a 4-0 shot advantage, the Bluedevils were outshot by UWRF 10-3 in the following 10 minutes of play. Stout's first power play of the game resulted in no scoring opportunities; UWRF actually outshot Stout 2-1 on the Bluedevils power play.

Huppert absolutely drilled a slap shot from the left point on a late first period power play that zoomed by Viele's mask and into the back of the net. Huppert's fourth goal of the season was assisted by Fazio and Burden. Fazio's assist was his fourth, and the time of the goal was 16:02.

The Falcons outshot Stout 11-9 in the first period. UWRF went 1-1 on the power play and Stout went 0-1. Kontny and Fazio both fired two shots each in the period.

Gattelaro had a good opportunity in the opening minute of the second period as he slipped behind a Bluedevils defenseman and attempted to go five-hole but Viele closed the pads on the breakaway chance.

Bluedevils sophomore forward Justin Moody cut the Falcon lead in half after he followed his own shot and scored on the rebound. Moody's quick snap shot beat Milliron high blocker side to bring the score to 2-1. The goal was Moody's team-leading fourth of the season. Sophomore forward Craig Lindegard was credited with his second assist of the season. Junior forward Jake Useldinger earned the secondary assist, his team-leading fifth. The time of the goal was 4:26.

Huppert brilliantly setup Fazio for a tip-in goal on yet another UWRF power play at 11:14 of the season period. With only seconds remaining on the Falcons' second power play of the game, Huppert calmed down the second power play unit and found an open Fazio in front of Viele. Fazio simply directed the puck to the left of Viele and into the back of the net. The goal was Fazio's fourth of the season, which ties him for second on the team. Huppert's assist was his third and Burden earned his third assist of the game, which ties him for the team lead with seven. Fazio was ejected from the game only minutes later after a checking from behind major penalty.

Useldinger scored a power play goal to cut the deficit to 3-2 at 14:14 of the second period. Useldinger's third of the season was assisted by junior defenseman Danny Ray, his second.

A spin-o-rama goal on the penalty kill by sophomore forward Danny Hamburg woke up the deflated Falcon crowd just 13 seconds after the Useldinger goal. Hamburg intercepted an errant Bluedevils pass, spun in a circle and backhanded a shot from the left dot that slung past Viele's glove. Hamburg's second goal of the season was truly one in a million.

Gattelaro finally beat Viele to put UWRF ahead 5-2 with 2:23 left in the second. Gattelaro received a great outlet pass from freshman forward AJ Jarosz and blasted a slap shot past Viele's glove, off the post and into the twine. Gattelaro, easily one of UWRF's best players on Thursday evening, scored his third of the season on the play. Jarosz earned his second collegiate assist on the play.

UWRF outshot Stout 12-10 in the wild second period. Both teams went 1-1 on the power play in the period. Gattelaro led UWRF with four shots on goal through two.

Kontny roofed a wrist shot past the glove of Bluedevils sophomore goaltender Chase Hollander (0-2), who replaced Viele after the second period, to push the lead to 6-2. Kontny's second goal of the game and fourth of the year was scored at 2:20 of the third period and was assisted sophomore forward Cory Lushanko and Bergh. Lushanko's assist was his third of the season, while Bergh's second assist of the evening puts him at five on the year.

Useldinger scored his second goal of the game for Stout at 10:07 of the third period on a wraparound that beat Milliron five-hole to bring the Bluedevils within three at 6-3. Senior forward Jordan Tredinnick earned his fourth assist of the season on the goal.

Sophomore forward Ryan Doner iced the game with his fourth goal of the season at 14:37 of the third period on a 4-on-4 even strength goal. Bergh earned his third assist of the evening as he dropped a pass to Doner at the top of the left circle and Doner did the rest, beating Hollander high glove. Gattelaro earned his fourth assist of the season on the goal.

UWRF outshot Stout 34-33 for the game. The Falcons went 2-3 on the power play and the Bluedevils finished 1-3. Milliron finished with 30 saves in the win, while Viele made 18 saves in the loss and Hollander made nine saves in relief.

UWRF improves to 8-0 overall, 4-0 at home, and 1-0 in the WIAC. Stout falls to 2-6-1 overall, 0-4-1 on the road, and 0-1 in the WIAC.

The Falcons travel north tomorrow afternoon to take on the UW-Superior Yellowjackets with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. in Wessman Arena.

Box Score