By Justin Dade - Sports Information

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The No. 14 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team defeated the Finlandia Lions 5-1 on Saturday night at Hobbs Ice Center to improve to 6-3 on the season.

Box Score

UW-Eau Claire nearly found themselves outside the national rankings following the tough loss to No. 1 St. Norbert last weekend but looked dominant in this one firing a season-high 57 total shots on goal.

Despite coming into this one without a win, the Lions got on the board first following a Blugold turnover on a goal scored by Cam Wirick to make it 1-0 with 11:38 left in the first period.

Johnny Mueller (Jr. - St. Peters, MO) responded with his first goal of the season just over five minutes later to make it 1-1 assisted by Jake Hopfner (Sr. – Eastpointe, MI) and Alex Strand (So. – Roseau, MN).

UW-Eau Claire would add another with under three minutes left in the period scored by Strand to make it 2-1. Hopfner and Jesse Tredinnick (Sr. – Onalaska, WI) were credited with the assists on Strand's fourth goal of the season. The Blugolds held a dominant 18-5 lead in shots on goal after the first frame.

Mac Jansen (Sr. – White Bear Lake, MN), Lucas Kohls (Jr. – Forest Lake, MN) and Scott Munro (So. – Vancouver, BC) would add three more for the Blugolds in the final two periods as they went on to win 5-1.

Munro finished with a goal and an assist and also totaled an impressive +4 rating in just his ninth game of his Blugold career.

Goaltender David Johnson (So. – Bloomington, MN) made his first ever start in net as a Blugold saving 18 of the 19 shots he faced on the night. Johnson saw action in just one game last season before today.

The Blugolds (6-3-0) will be back at Hobbs Ice Center for another game with the Finlandia tomorrow at 4 p.m.

Follow all the action on Blugold Game Day.