Box Score

River Falls, Wis. (uwrfsports.com).  The #13 ranked UW-River Falls Men's hockey team (12-4-3) battled the #10 ranked UW-Eau Claire Blugolds (11-5-2) at Hunt Arena Thursday night.  The Falcons got a power play goal in the 2^nd period and a late goal in the third to seal their 2-1 victory over WIAC rival UW-Eau Claire.
 
 
The first period started with both teams playing very good defense and making it very difficult on both teams to get anything established in the offensive zone.  About 5 minutes in both teams started to get into the offensive zone and got some shots on net but both goal tenders were able to keep the puck out of the net.
 
At the 6:25 mark of the period Colton Wolter for Eau Claire was called for tripping. About 30 seconds into the power play the Falcons set up a great one timer chance with a cross ice pass from the point only to be stopped by a great lunging save by Tyler Green the Eau Claire goal tender.  The Falcons kept the pressure on the rest of the power play but could not put the puck in the back of the net.
 
After the penalty expired both teams picked up the pace and furious end to end action followed.  Eau Claire would rush down the ice and take a shot on net as soon as Tanner Milliron made the save the Falcons were going the other end and firing shots on the Eau Claire net minder.  With about 3 minutes left to go in the period, the Doner, Gattelaro, and George line sustained great pressure in the offensive end only to be stopped by Green once again.
 
The first period ended with the Falcons getting the better of the play, but being outshot 10-8.
 
The second period started with the Falcons pressing the issue in the offensive zone.  The sustained pressure led to the first of 3 penalties called on Eau Claire in the period at 4:15 of the period when Joe Schmitz was called for tripping.  On the ensuing power play the Falcons sustained good pressure in the offensive zone with their best scoring chance coming off a redirect by Mike Fazio with less than 10 seconds left in the power play, but the Eau Claire net minder was there to make the save. 
 
After the power play was over the Blugolds got some momentum and pinned the Falcons in their own zone for four straight minutes.  But some great goaltending by Tanner Milliron and some timely shot blocking by the defense kept the puck out of the net.
 
At the 10:55 mark of the period the Falcons were again sent to the power play as Joe Schmitz was called for another penalty, this time roughing with contact to the head.  On the ensuing power play the Falcons couldn't get much going but at the end of the power play there was a flurry in front of the net causing Tyler Green to make a couple of big saves to keep the Falcons off the scoreboard.
 
The Blugolds answered after the power play again with a couple of great scoring chances of their own, but Tanner Milliron made to great saves including one on a breakaway to keep the game tied at 0.  Over the next few minutes the physicality of the game picked up as both teams had huge hits in the neutral zone. 
 
At 14:37 the Blugolds were called for boarding and the Falcons went to their 3^rd power play of the period.  The Falcons got set up in the offensive end and created great pressure through the first part of the power play.  With 21 seconds left in the power play Mitch Kontny won a board battle and got the puck across ice to Brian Drapluk.  Drapluk skated the puck into the circle and let a wrist shot go that found the back of the net to put the Falcons up 1-0.
 
1 minute after the Falcons scored to go ahead, Mike Dietrich was called for tripping.  The Blugold power play was killed off with ease by the Falcons, with great shot blocking up front and some timely goal tending by Tanner Milliron. 
30 seconds after the Falcons killed off Dietrich's penalty Mike Williams was called for boarding at 19:46.  The period would end with the Falcons up 1-0, but there was 1:46 seconds left of the Blugold power play to start the third period. Through 2 periods the Falcons had out shot the Blugold 21-20. 
 
The third period began with the Falcons short handed.  The Falcons got great goaltending from Tanner Milliron and they killed off the remainder of the power play.
 
The third period turned into an end to end thrill ride as both teams created scoring chances and both goalies continued to make great saves.  The Falcons were called for slashing at the 4:32 mark of the period and sent the Blugolds to their second power play of the period.
 
The Falcon penalty killers created the best scoring chance of the power play when they broke out in a 2 on 1, Eddie Matsushima made a great pass and forced the Eau Claire goal tender to make a great save on Christain George.  Then during the same play Eddie raced back into his own zone to break up a Blugold rush.  The power play ended and the Falcons hung on to their 1-0 lead. 
 
Midway throug the period Danny Hamburg of River Falls was called for Cross checking and Derek Knetter for Eau Claire was called for roughing and it led to 4 on 4 hockey.  During the 4 on 4 action, both teams created scoring chances, but both goalies were up to the test. 
 
The rest of the period was a tight checking hard fought hockey game, and then at 18:50 of the third period Danny Hamburg took a pass from Mike Williams and went behind the net and completed the wrap around as he slid the puck past Tyler Green, to put the Falcons up 2-0.
 
But the celebration was very short lived as less than 20 seconds later at 19:06 Patrick Moore slid the puck past Tanner Milliron to cut the lead to 2-1.
On the ensuing face off the Blugolds pulled their goalie, but were unable to get control of the puck as the Falcons killed off the last 54 seconds and won the game 2-1. 
 
The shots for both clubs were even at 33 with Tanner Milliron making 32 saves and Tyler Green making 31.  Milliron was strong in net for the Falcons tonight, with great rebound control and even getting a piece of the physical action when he laid out a Blugold forward.
 
The Falcons are back in action this Saturday Jan. 23^rd at UW-Stevens Point.  Puck drop is set for 7pm.