The Eau Claire North Huskies visited the Chippewa Falls Cardinals Wednesday night in an 8 versus 9 matchup in the WIAA regional tournament. The Cardinals came back from a 2-0 deficit and hung on to win 3-2 in a hard hitting, intense game.

The first period began with a few big hits from the Huskies, setting the tempo early. Both teams seemed to have implemented the dump and chase strategy early on.

2:01 into the game, Eau Claire North’s Garrett Strange broke the ice on a quick shot from a tough angle to the left of Chippewa goaltender Andrew Brovold.

Minutes later, North’s Ty Haats took the puck from just inside his own zone, weaved his way through the neutral zone and let go an absolute rip from just inside the Chippewa Falls blue line. The great individual effort put the Huskies up 2-0. Not the start the Cardinals wanted on home ice.

Eau Claire North threw everything they could toward the net in the first, meanwhile the Cardinals were held shotless through the first seven minutes.

However, not only did the Cardinals kill an ensuing Husky power play, but Bret Carlson, after being denied on a previous shot on the rush, found the puck in the front of the net seconds later and deked his way around Carter Duss to cut the lead to 2-1.

The chaotic first period got even crazier, when Cardinals forward Matt Frenette found himself on a power play breakaway, but hit the lower left post.

North goaltender Carter Duss prevailed through non stop Chippewa Falls pressure and shut the door the rest of the period.

Both sides, again, came out physical in the second. Minutes after the Cardinals killed off a penalty, Jackson LeMay found the back of the net after a nice five and go zone entry with Matt Frenette. The crowd popper knotted the game at 2.

Chippewa Falls carried the majority of the play throughout the second period. Getting pucks in deep and taking the open ice when they saw opportunity. A miscue 2 on 1 letup from Eau Claire North led to a back door tap in for Cardinals forward Matt Frenette. Safe to say he was due.

Nevertheless, despite giving up a shorthanded 2 on 1 to Chippewa, the post was there to save the Huskies on an absolute bullet of a one timer from Bret Carlson.

The Huskies really picked it up in the last 5 minutes of the second, a scramble in front of the Cardinal net led to a backhand shovel for North, but wound up hitting the post. Shots were even at 19 after two.

There weren’t many great opportunities for either side in the third until the final 5 minutes.

The Huskies left everything out there offensively, but spectacular saves in tight from Cardinal goaltender Andrew Brovold kept his team in front.

North continued the pressure late, but a late penalty with just under 3 minutes left really put them to work.

After killing the penalty and playing in their own end, North was able to keep the Cardinals on their heals with inside 30 seconds left.

A scrum in the Chippewa Falls crease led to a penalty shot with 11.9 seconds left for Eau Claire North.

With the crowd as loud as can be and the pressure on, Eau Claire North hit the outside of the right post and held on to win 3-2 in a thriller.

Give goaltender Andrew Brovold credit, as he forced the North forward to his backhand and covered most of the net.

The season came to an end for Eau Claire North Huskies with a record of 6-18-1. Chippewa Falls will continue their Cinderella story goal and head to Stevens Point tomorrow for a classic 1 versus 8 road matchup.