CANTON — Ryan Elrick and Cullen O’Brien registered third interval targets, and Travis Thomas buried the game-ending tally in extra time as Canton rallied for an unforgettable 3-2 victory over Newburyport.
“I feel like we’ve played these guys for 15 years, and that’s the score it’s been 10 out of the 15 years,” stated Canton coach Brian Shuman. “It seems like no matter the scenario, it’s always a close game. They’re a really well-structured team, and we knew it was going to be a battle.”
Despite controlling the tempo for probably the most half, the Bulldogs (8-0-1) struggled to place a shot previous Newburyport goaltender Damien Lamb.
With the sport scoreless late within the second interval, the Bulldogs launched into an abbreviated 5-on-3 energy play. However, as one of many two Newburyport (5-3-1) penalties expired, Clippers freshman Luke MacIssac broke up ice, and fired a shot from the facet of the web. The puck ricocheted again to the ahead, and he was in a position to bury a shocking shorthanded purpose to place Newburyport forward, 1-0.
During a third-period energy play sequence, Canton’s Elrick tapped in a unfastened puck on the doorstep to knot the rating at 1-all with 12:43 to play.
Then, simply 4:27 later, the Bulldogs discovered lightning in a bottle as O’Brien sniped a wrist shot to place his group forward, 2-1.
“(We were just) trying to get shots from all around,” stated Thomas. “Get the goalie moving, anything we could do to find the net.”
Then, adversity struck as soon as once more for Canton, because the Bulldogs had been assessed a hooking penalty with 2:08 left in regulation. Newburyport was in a position to capitalize on the man-advantage, as Jackson DeVivo sniped the equalizer with 1:07 remaining.
With each groups desperately looking for the clincher within the additional session, the Bulldogs had been referred to as for tripping, setting the Clippers up for a doable game-winner with 1:56 left.
Yet, Shuman’s group remained poised.
“There were a couple of guys out there looking to make a play,” Shuman stated. “I love the format, to be able to go four-on-four in overtime. Then, to have a four-on-three, it doesn’t feel like you’re down sometimes. It feels like you can take advantage of a turnover.”
Rather than wilting underneath the stress down a person, the Bulldogs ramped issues as much as a brand new stage. As Brendan Tourgee battled a pair of defensemen towards the boards for possession, the puck squeaked free for a split-second. Then, Thomas noticed his alternative and swooped in to gather. After deking round a 3rd defender, he slid a shot residence as the gang erupted, his teammates chasing him towards the bleachers in pursuit.
Thomas additionally registered an help for Canton, as did Tourgee and senior ahead Brian Middleton.
Lamb closed his outing with 27 saves to propel Newburyport.
“I saw my friend was in trouble,” Thomas stated afterward. “Two vs. one. Saw the loose puck, and I picked it up. Went five-hole, and that’s game.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com