The River Falls Wildcat hockey team's improbable run to the WIAA State Semi-Finals a year ago was improbable because they finished 4-10 in the Big Rivers Conference, good for sixth place.

This season, the Wildcats are 6-6, in fourth place, and have two winnable games this week against BRC cellar dwellers to finish the regular season. An eight-win conference season would be just one game shy of the school record of nine set twice, once each by the 1997 and 2009 Wildcat teams. Even the six conference losses have been better this season, but according to Head Coach Tim Beres, they are still frustrating.

"We've been playing some good hockey and beaten some good teams," said Beres. "But putting the other team on the power play is just a momentum killer."

Against conference-leading New Richmond last week, River Falls tallied seven penalties to just two for the visiting Tigers. River Falls went into the third period tied with New Richmond (16-5 overall), but surrendered three unanswered goals for the 7-4 loss. The Wildcats have been in most of the games this season, but like the Paul Simon-song, River Falls has been "slip sliding away" in the third stanza.

In 21 games this season, the Wildcats have begun the third period tied with their opponent eight times. In those eight games, they've finished 2-6 and have been outscored 13-4.

Thursday's game against the rival Hudson Raiders would add to each topic discussed in a negative way for Wildcat fans inside a packed Wildcat Centre.

The first period had more jam-packed action popping than the two local insurance agents Jenny Rivard and Angie Jenkins running the popcorn machine in the concession area. Both teams had a combined 20 shots on goal and seven total goals. The Wildcats' Chase Weissinger, Jaxon Flanigan, Charlie Friemann, and Calvin Schrank all scored for the 'Cats as they took a 4-3 lead into the first intermission. Schrank also tallied an assist. The 5'10" 210-lb sophomore tree trunk Will Mauer scored one goal in the first and added two assists for the Raiders. Mauer's sophomore brethren speedster Caiden Spreiter was in the point column with two goals and an assist.

The Wildcat Centre crowd was loud and raucous, possibly sensing an upset of biblical proportions. Wildcat hockey wins against the Raiders have been about as scarce as a 60-degree Wisconsin-day in February. The last time River Falls beat Hudson on the ice was a 6-4 win in 2012. They came into Thursday night limping along with a 26-game losing streak to Hudson. The Raiders have outscored the Wildcats 150-22 during that 26-game span, including 13 shutouts. The two schools may be rivals but only in geography when wearing skates.

Henry Steele tied up the score at 4-apiece, 44 seconds into the second period. Steele leads the Raiders with 32 points on the season. Flanigan scored his Wildcat team-leading 30th point on the year with his second goal of the game at the 11:38 mark. Flanigan's rebound goal gave River Falls a 5-4 lead. Spreiter was at it again for the Raiders, as he tied up the score, 5-5, on a short-handed goal at the 16:22 mark.

It would be the ninth time the Wildcats have started a third period this season with a tie score. Hudson's Mauer broke the tie at 6:25 in the third, giving the Raiders a 6-5 lead. Wildcat senior captain Cal Usgaard sent the decibel levels through the roof when he sliced and diced his way through the Raiders' defenders at break-neck speed with an unassisted goal to tie the game at 6-apiece.

The rest of the game was all Hudson and Will Mauer. Mauer notched an even strength goal at the 13:02 mark and, after Usgaard was ticketed for his team-leading 12th penalty on the year, Mauer scored on the power play 35 seconds later. Mauer totaled six points on the night (four goals and two assists). He had a hat trick in the third period, alone. Spreiter had five points (three goals and two assists) as the sophomore duo was double trouble for the Wildcats all night. Hudson won by a final of 8-6.

"I did like the way we competed tonight," said Beres. "But tonight the main difference was being short-handed. I told the team we have to find a way to stay out of the box. We score a goal to get ahead, we battle for a few minutes, and we take a penalty and that's what kills us. Those hurt, especially against a good team like Hudson."

The Wildcats were whistled for five penalties. Hudson had three. All were two-minute minors. The Wildcats have lost the penalty battle 12-5 during the last two games against the BRC's best in New Richmond and Hudson.

Hudson outshot River Falls 40-20.

The Wildcats will finish their regular season on Thursday Feb. 13 at home against Eau Claire North. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. in the Wildcat Centre.