Box Score Game Summary vs. UW-Stout / GameDay Online / Photo Gallery

WINONA, Minn.  — Playing Northern Collegiate Hockey Association teams has left the Saint Mary's University men's hockey team feeling a bit under the weather of late.

On Saturday, St. Norbert had the Cardinals feeling a little green, as the defending national champion Green Knights dealt SMU a 5-1 nonconference setback.

Three days later, it was UW-Stout's turn, leaving the Cardinals feeling a little blue, as the Blue Devils erupted for five goals in each of the first two periods en route to a 12-2 victory Tuesday at the SMU Ice Arena.

“It was a struggle,” said SMU coach Bill Moore, whose team saw its losing streak climb to a season high fifth straight. “Playing a third game in four days is tough, but we can't use that as an excuse, either.

“(UW-Stout) played well, and we didn't, it was that simple.”

Robert Carr got the Blue Devils on the board less than five minutes into the opening period, and by the time Sean Geiger (Woodridge, Ill.) netted SMU's first goal at 12:48 of the second stanza, the Blue Devils had rattled off 10 unanswered goals — including three off the stick of Scott Motz.

Eric Dahl (St. Cloud, Minn.) netted his first goal of the season to account for SMU's other goal eight minutes into the third period.

UW-Stout finished with 39 shots on goal, while the Cardinals managed 31.

SMU, which falls to 1-11-1 overall, closes out the nonconference portion of its schedule on Saturday, as the Cardinals play host to UW-River Falls in a 7:05 p.m. contest at the SMU Ice Arena.