MENOMONIE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team fell to I-94 rival UW-Stout 5-2 in the first game of the 2011-12 season at Dunn County Ice Arena tonight.

The Blugolds fell behind early and couldn't recover. Eau Claire scored twice in the third period but the damage was already done as Stout scored all five of its goals in the first and second periods.

The Blue Devils put three goals on the board in the opening period, two coming short-handed while another came on a power-play. They found the back of the net two more times in the second to make the score 5-0.

In the final period, Eric Mclintock (So.-Traverse City, Mich./Central) scored both of the Blugolds' goals, one at 9:15 and another at 12:23. Both came on power-plays.

The teams shot even on the night with both recording a total of 28. The Blugolds outshot the Blue Devils 10-6 in the third period but Stout topped Eau Claire in the other two.

Two Blugold goalies saw time in-net with Brandon Stephenson (Jr.-Saline, Mich.) getting the most time. He made 17 saves but gave up all five goals. Alex Bjerk (Jr.-Roseau, Minn.) played the final period and made six saves.

The Blugolds will try to even out the series Saturday when they face the Blue Devils in Menomonie again. The puck is set to drop at 7:30 p.m.

-KM-