'Jackets Win 2-1

'JACKETS COMPLETE WEEKEND SWEEP

Ten months ago, the 'Jackets watched their second straight season die in the opening round of the playoffs, thanks to a loss in a mini-game. The culprit back in mid-February was UW-Eau Claire. The thought of the Blugolds celebrating their first round win on Wessman Arena ice had the opportunity to fester all summer long. Saturday night, the 'Jackets got their first look at the Blugolds since that night in the year's second month, and they did something they wish

they would have done back then. Beat them.

A goal in the first and a goal in the second was all that was needed, as the 'Jackets went on to a hard-fought, albeit boring 2-1 win before just 343 at Hobbs Ice Center. The win means the 'Jackets (12-1-1, 6-0-0 NCHA) will be alone in first place in the NCHA until the league resumes conference play in late January.

The victory also runs their unbeaten streak to 11 games, their longest such streak since going 20-straight without a loss to open the 2004-05 season.

The 'Jackets opened the scoring early and never looked back. Just three minutes into the game, Chris Berry (Jr. Calgary, Alberta) took a pass in between the circles and let a shot go that beat Blugold goaltender Tyler Brigl high on the glove side to make it 1-0. It was Berry's sixth goal of the season. Seth Reda (Sr. Palmer, Alaska) and Andrew MacKenzie (Sr. Terrace Bay, Ontario) assisted. Berry now has goals in four of the last five games that he's played in. The goal was the only one on the board until late in the second. Braden Desmet (Jr. Strathmore, Alberta) took a feed at the Eau Claire line, faked a shot and danced around a defender, then put a shot off the goal post, then off the back of Brigl and in to make it 2-0. It's the second game in a row that Desmet would score the game-winning goal. This one came at 16:43 of the second. Eric Bauasno (Sr. Laurium, Michigan) and Kevin Huck (Sr. Eden Prairie, Minnesota) assisted.

In the third period, the 'Jackets were given a huge opportunity midway through the period to put the game away. Eau Claire's Andrew Johnson was whistled for checking from behind, giving the 'Jackets a five-minute power play. There was a lot of puck movement, a lot of offensive zone possession, but not a lot of chances. In fact, the 'Jackets probably only had two shots on goal during the five minute man advantage. Then as the penalty expired, Art Clark (Jr. Bloomington, Minnesota) took a shot from the right point that was blocked. Tyler Trudell knocked it down and fed a pass to center for Nic Weight, who came off the bench as the penalty expired. Weight skated in on the breakaway, but his shot was stopped. The rebound kicked back up the slot and Sean Garrity picked it up and buried it to make it 2-1 with 5:45 to play in regulation.

From there, the play went back and forth. With just over a minute left, Eau Claire pulled Brigl, but they weren't able to amount much of an attack with the extra man. In fact, they spent a majority of the closing seconds on their own side of center ice. The final seconds ticked away, giving the 'Jackets an important road win.

Chad Beiswenger (Sr. Moorhead, Minnesota) was again solid in goal, making 20 saves in the game. For the weekend, he was 2-0 with a 1.00 goals against average and a .947 save percentage, as he stopped 36 of 38 shots faced. Brigl made 33 saves at the other end.

The 'Jackets went 0-4 on the power play, including the five minute advantage. The Blugolds went 0-5. The 'Jackets took five penalties for ten minutes, while Eau Claire took five for 21 minutes.

The 'Jackets close out the first half of the schedule with a non-conference game on Saturday, December 13 at Finlandia. The two teams met in the season's second game, with the 'Jackets coming away with a 9-1 win at Wessman Arena. Game time on Saturday night will be 4:00 p.m. CST and can be heard live locally on KUWS 91.3 FM, with the pre-game show getting underway at 3:40 p.m. If you are outside the local listening area, you can tune in via the Internet at www.kuws.fm. Jon Garver will have the call.