'Jackets Fall In Stevens Point
 
Saturday at K.B. Willett Arena, the 'Jackets lost their second one-goal game of the season.  And all it took was 18 seconds.  The Pointers scored a pair of goals in a span of 18 seconds in the first period on their way to a 2-1 win, halting the Yellowjackets' unbeaten streak at eight games. 

The loss was particularly painful because two players - Chris Wilson (Sr. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) and Tom Budziakowski (So. Toronto, Ontario) received game disqualification penalties in an altercation at the end of the game, meaning that they will not be available for the next game, which is Friday night against St. Scholastica.  The Pointers also lost two players in the melee.

The Pointers opened the scoring at 7:39 of the first period when Nic Polaski converted on the power play to make it 1-0.  Polaski walked off the left wing boards and walked into the slot, letting a wrist shot go that beat Garrett Tinkham (Fr. Paradis, Texas) high on the stick side.  The lead went to 2-0 at 7:57 when Luke Nesper picked up a rebound to the right of the goal and shoveled it home for his second of the year.

The 'Jackets thought they got on the board in the second period when Wilson, from a bad angle, thought he snuck the puck inside the post to make it 2-1.  The team celebrated, but the goal light never came on and the referee never signaled that it was a goal.  After a short conference between the officials and the goal judge, the goal was waved off and the score remained 2-0.  Wilson would eventually get on the board later in the period, at 18:40, scoring on the power play with a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle to make it 2-1.  Wilson's sixth goal of the year was assisted by Braden Desmet (Sr. Strathmore, Alberta)

In the third, the two teams each had six shots on goal, but there was no further scoring.  After the final buzzer, the teams came together at the Stevens Point blue line and several fights broke out.  In the end, however, just two players from each team were penalized.  The Yellowjackets took 11 penalties in the game for 44 minutes.  Stevens Point took 13 penalties for 48 minutes.  The 'Jackets went 1-9 on the power play and the Pointers went 1-7.

Tinkham finished the game with 19 saves, including a couple of spectacular stops later in the third period.  Thomas Speer made 30 saves in picking up his first win of the season for the Pointers.

The 'Jackets return to action for their final two games before the Christmas break this weekend when they visit St. Scholastica.  The Saints split a pair of games at St. Norbert last weekend.  Game time on Friday is 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live locally on KUWS 91.3 FM, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.  If you are outside the local listening area, you can tune in on the Internet at www.ifan.tv.  Jon Garver will have the call.