The Bay Port Pirates scored first in Tuesday night’s matchup with the SPASH Panthers at K.B. Willet Arena in Stevens Point. The Pirates stuck with the home team for most of the first period, which ended with a one to one tie. But then the Panthers took over en route to a 5-1 victory.

Point goalie Zak Burdick didn’t have to make a save until 3:24 into the game when Marek Stefik picked up the puck in the Bay Port zone and headed up the ice. Stefik skated through the neutral zone, then walked around the Panthers defense to take on Burdick. Stefik’s quick shot went through the five hole before Burdick had a chance to close it up.

Ben Knutson was busier in front of the Bay Port net, where he stopped 12 shots in the first period. The only shot that got past him was a rebound shot by Jackson Schroeder, off a shot from the point taken by Logan Ostricki.

A Bay Port power play late in the first period doubled up Burdicks save count from 4 to 8.

The only goal in the second period was a result of speed and hustle by the Panthers’ Carter Drexler. SPASH was killing a penalty and dumped the puck behind the Bay Port goal line. Knutson went behind his net top play the puck but the closest skater to him was Drexler, charging hard on Knutson’t left. Knutson threw the puck up the right boards, but Drexler got to it first and fed the puck to Grady Miller in the slot. Miller’s one-timer put the Panthers up 2-1.

The shot counts shifted firmly towards SPASH in the second at 17 to 5.

The Panthers used the home ice advantage for their first goal of the third period. Jackson Flees fired the puck from the blue line and missed the net slightly to the right side. A lively bounce off the end boards took the puck to the stick of Grant Molski, who was parked on the right side and behind Knutson, who had come out of the net to challenge the Flees shot. Molski tucked the puck into the open net for a 3-1 Point lead.

SPASH got another short-handed goal son after that when Jackson Schroeder picked off a pass and skated in alone on Knutson. Easton Kitowksi scored the next goal for SPASH to make the final score 5-1.

Knutson ended the night stopping 40 out of 45 shots, while Burdick had only to make 16 saves on his 17 shots.