'Jackets Headed For NCHA Finals
 
Saturday at Wessman Arena, two longtime NCHA playoff rivals took to the ice as the Yellowjackets played host to UW-Stevens Point.  Over the last two decades, the Yellowjackets and Pointers have squared off several times in the playoffs, from the first round to NCAA quarterfinals, these two teams have faced each other through it all.  Every game between the two, it seems, has something big on the line.  The latest chapter in the rivalry was no different, as the urgency and the tension in the building were palpable.

The Yellowjackets scored early but the Pointers countered.  The teams at one point combined to score three goals in a span of 2:35, but in the end it was the home team punching their tickets to "Titletown," as the Yellowjackets took down the Pointers by a 4-2 score.

With the win, the Yellowjackets advance to the Peters Cup finals where they will travel to St. Norbert, who took care of River Falls 5-3 in Saturday's other semifinal.  The Pointers close out their season at 13-14-1.

The Yellowjackets opened the scoring early when Justin Faryna (Calgary, Alberta) scored an unassisted goal just 3:53 in to make it 1-0.  Faryna had the puck in the right corner and eluded the Pointer defense, driving to the net and letting a backhand go that beat Nick Graves for his team-leading 13th goal of the year.  From there, the Yellowjackets had a golden opportunity to break the game open early, as they were given three power play chances in the first ten minutes but weren't able to capitalize.  The Pointers would even the score at 14:55 when Kyle Politz, carrying the puck into Yellowjacket territory on the right wing, let a wrist shot go that beat Drew Strandberg (Thunder Bay, Ontario) high on the glove side, making it 1-1.  Politz was in the right circle and dropped a shoulder as if to make a pass and Strandberg bit on the fake, exposing the glove side.  It was the fourth goal of the year for Politz.

In the second, the Yellowjackets again regained the lead and this time would not let it go.  With the Yellowjackets on a power play following an early penalty, Joey Massingham (Duncan, British Columbia) sent a pass from the right corner toward the blue line that bounced, potentially allowing an odd-man rush the other way for the Pointers.  But Derek Stauber (Duluth, Minnesota) calmly knocked the puck to the ice and took a low wrist shot that was tipped by Kyle Leahy (Fort St. John, British Columbia) in the slot.  The shot rang off the post behind Graves and snuck in, giving the Yellowjackets a 2-1 edge at 2:09.  The goal was Leahy's sixth of the year.  The lead bulged to 3-1 when Tyler Klein (Fargo, North Dakota) had the puck in the right corner and walked out, sliding a low shot that got underneath the pads of Graves, making it 3-1 at 4:22.  The goal, coming while the teams were skating 4-on-4, was the sixth of the year for Klein.  Chad Blanleil (Kelowna, British Columbia) had the assist.  Following the goal, Talon Berlando (Drumheller, Alberta) mimicked the goal celebration that Politz performed earlier and was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, putting the Pointers on the power play.  They would capitalize with great puck movement right off the faceoff, and Garrett Suter fed a pass from the right point to the left circle, where Chade Boeckman let a wrister go, beating Strandberg up high before he could move from left to right to make it 3-2 at 4:44.  After the Pointer goal, play would settle down and the teams began playing a free-flowing, back-and forth game.  The Yellowjackets would close out the scoring midway through the game, when Berlando followed up a Klein rush, picked up a loose puck to the left of the goal and flipped it past Graves, making it 4-2 at 10:16.  It was the 11th of the year for Berlando.

The Pointers nearly tied it up at one point, ringing a shot off the post.  They would hit a post later in the second period and still another in the third period, totaling four in the game.  As the third period wore on, as has been the case with the Yellowjackets this post-season, the opposition began to take control.  In the waning minutes of the game, Strandberg and the Yellowjacket defense found themselves under siege, but they were unable to put one home and the Yellowjackets walked out with the win.

Strandberg was his usual solid self in goal for the Yellowjackets, picking up his tenth win of the season and making 31 saves in the process.  At the other end, Graves made 28 stops for the Pointers.  Each team took five penalties in the game for ten minutes, and each team went 1-4 on the power play.

The Yellowjackets (16-11-1) will hit the road and make the long trip to eastern Wisconsin, will they will play St. Norbert College (21-4-1) for the Peters Cup on Saturday, March 5 at the Cornerstone Community Center.  The latest chapter in another rich playoff rivalry will feature the top two seeds in the NCHA.  Game time is 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live locally on 91.3 FM KUWS, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:40 p.m.  If you are outside the local listening area you can tune in on the web at www.ifan.tv.  Jon Garver will have the call.