EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team converted on 3-of-8 power play opportunities, translating into three, third period goals and a 4-2 victory over UW-Stevens Point here tonight at Hobbs Ice Arena.

The Blugolds improve to 8-5-1 on the season and 1-2-1 in both Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play. The Pointers drop to 7-3-2 on the year and suffer their first loss in conference play to fall to 3-0-1.

The two teams skated to a scoreless tie until just 1:35 remained in the first period. Mike Brolsma found the back of the net for the Pointers to put Eau Claire in a 1-0 hole. Less than five minutes into the second period Stevens Point took a 2-0 lead when Chris Gehrke scored a power play goal.

The Blugolds, victims of a 7-3 loss to the Pointers Friday night, did not let a two-goal deficit stand in their way. With just five seconds remaining in the second period, Phil Cherneski (Sr.-Thompson, MAN/RDPC) took a pass from Pete Eloranta (Sr.-River Falls) and fired it past Pointer goalie Bryn Davies on the power play to cut the deficit in half. On the ensuing face-off, the Pointers were hit with three penalties, including a 10-minute misconduct penalty. The Blugolds took advantage early in the third period, scoring a power play goal on a 5-on-3 advantage. Kyle Garner (So.-Sun Prairie) earned the goal, his second of the season, while Eloranta and Ben Manny (Sr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) earned assists.

Sparkling goaltending kept the game tied at two until late in the period. With time winding down in the final period of regulation, the Pointers again committed a penalty to put the Blugolds a man up. Again Eau Claire capitalized on the advantage. Rob Ouimette (Sr.-Iron Bridge, ONT/Leamington District) took a beautiful pass from Eloranta for a game-winning, power play goal with 2:12 remaining in regulation.

Manny added an empty net goal with 40 seconds left in the contest to seal the victory at 4-2.

Steffan Braunlich (Jr.-Los Angeles, CA/Loyola) was marvelous in net, recording 55 saves on the evening. The Blugolds managed 38 shots to the Pointers' 57 but were 3-of-8 on the power-play to earn the win.

Eau Claire will take a break for the holiday season and return to action on January 5, when they head to St. Paul, MN to battle St. Thomas at 7:00 p.m.

Eau Claire-Stevens Point Box Score

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