Box Score

RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com)-The UW-River Falls Men's hockey team took on Bethel University at Hunt Arena on Tuesday night.  The Falcons dominated the Royals for a 3-0 win as Tanner Milliron recorded his third shutout of the season.
 
The Falcons wasted little time on Tuesday night to get on the scoreboard.  At 3:19 into the first period the Falcons found the back of the net.  A shot from the point by Terry Leabo was redirected infront by Mike Fazio and found its way to Danny Hamburg's stick and he put it in the back of the net.  It was Hamburg's third goal of the season. 
 
10 seconds after the Falcons went up 1-0 they were sent to the power play when George Splichal was called for holding.  The Falcons looked for a 2 goal lead on the power play and generated numerous great scoring chances, but none of them found the back of the net. 
 
Not long after their power play the Falcons were called for their first penalty of the night when Cory Lushanko was called for holding.  The Falcon penalty killers were very impressive as they killed the Royal power play off with ease only allowing one shot on goal which Tanner Milliron made a great save on. 
 
The Falcons would put tremendous pressure on the Royals for the next couple of minutes peppering the Royal goaltender with two quality scoring chances.  At the 10:43 mark of the first period the Falcon penalty killers would be tested again when Brian Drapluk was sent to the penalty box for interference.  Once again the Falcon penalty killers were up to the task and with some great shot blocking and a couple of great saves by Milliron the Falcons were able to keep their 1 goal lead.
 
The Falcons would get their chance on the power play 3 minutes later when Bethel was called for slashing.  The Falcon power play got a few shots toward the net but couldn't add to their 1 goal lead.
 
The first period ended with the Falcons holding onto their 1 goal lead at 1-0.  The Falcons out shot the Royals 8 to 6 in the period.
 
The Falcons came out in the second period and jumped all over the Royals.  They were in the offensive zone creating chances and putting pucks on the net.  2:25 into the period the Nick Eytcheson was for slashing and it sent the Falcons to their first power play of the period.  The Falcons sustained great pressure early on the power play, forcing the Royal goaltender to make a couple great saves to keep the puck out of the net.  The power play ended and the Falcons could not add to their lead. 
 
A couple minutes later Nick Eytcheson was called for two penalties and it put the Falcons on the power play for 4 minutes.  The Falcons could not sustain any pressure early in the power play and then with about 2:38 left on the power play Mitch Kontny was called for hooking and negated the Falcon power play.  4 on 4 hockey ensued and the Falcons generated a 2 on 1 scoring chance but could not beat the Royal net minder.  After the penalty to Kontny expired the Falcons had a brief 38 second power play in which they almost added to their 1 goal lead, but the Royal goal tender made a great save. 
 
About 1 minute after the abbreviated power play Nick Eytcheson was called for his fourth penalty of the period putting the Falcons back on the power play.  The Falcons could not get much going on the power play and the score remained 1-0. 
 
At the 14:15 mark of the second period the Falcons' Danny Hamburg was called for slashing putting the Royals on the power play looking to tie the game.  The Falcon penalty killers did a great job of killing off the power play but they were not satisfied with just killing the penalty off.  At 16:12 in the period Kyle Gattelaro caused a turnover in the offensive end, took the puck, made pretty move on the goal tender and roofed a back hander to the top of the net for a short handed goal.  The goal was Gattelaro's 8^th of the season and it put the Falcons up 2-0. 
 
The Falcons would kill off the rest of the penalty but the Falcon penalty killers would be tested again in the period when Mike Fazio was called for interference at the 18:03 mark.  The Falcon penalty killers, once again stepped up and killed off the penalty with very few shots toward their goal. 
 
The second period ended with the Falcons up 2-0. The Falcons out shot the Royals 13-7 for the period.
 
The Falcons began the third period just like the second period.  They were all over the Royals generating scoring chances and firing shots on goal.  The pressure paid off for the Falcons at the 5:04 mark when Michael Bond was called for high sticking.  On the ensuing power play the Falcons would get the third and final goal of the evening when Ryan Doner scooped up a loose puck and put it in the back of the net.  He was assisted on the goal by Jeff Bergh and Christian George. 
 
About half way through the period both teams were assessed for multiple penalties stemming from an altercation in front of the Falcons bench.  The Falcons went on the power play for the next 2 minutes.  The Falcons could not get any sustained pressure on the power play, but did have a few shots that just missed the mark. 
 
At the 15:08 mark the Falcon penalty killers were again tested when Jeff Bergh was called for hooking.  The Falcon penalty killers not only killed the penalty off, but also generated a bit of offense when they got loose on a breakaway only to be stopped with a great save by the Royal goaltender. 
 
The Falcons would continue to protect their 3 goal lead and preserve the shutout for Tanner Milliron.  The shutout was Tanner's 3^rd of the season.  The Falcons pushed their record to 13-5-3 with the victory while sending the Royals to 2-13-2 on the season. 
 
The Falcons are back in action next Thursday February 4^th, when they travel to take on UW-Stout. Puck drop is set for 7:30pm.