Beverly and Saugus Skate to a 0-0 Draw
The first period started out slow with both teams feeling each other out. As the period went on the physical play certainly picked up as each team was not afraid to play the body. Although the shots were tied 7 to 7, Beverly had the upper hand with the better scoring chances, but John Devereaux was up for the task. Saugus’ one scoring chance came from a clear from their defensive end that ended up on net. The puck trickled through Jack Ten Hope, but he was able to recover and paddle the puck away before it crossed the goal line.
In the second period Beverly came out slow for the first five minutes and Saugus took it to them but were unable to capitalize on a few loose rebounds. After the five-minute lull, Beverly seemed to tilt the ice and the rest of the period was in Saugus’ end. Beverly’s first line of Conor Hanlon and Steve Hallinan dominated the play when they were out there. Their physical presence was felt with each shit and they produced chance after chance. Devereaux stood on his head and thwarted chance after chance from Beverly.
In the third period it was much of the same. Beverly was unable to convert on their chances but kept the play in Saugus’ end. The real scare for Beverly did not come until 2:33 left on the clock, when Beverly took a 5-minute hit from behind penalty and a minute twenty later a cross checking penalty to go down 5 on 3. Behind solid penalty killing and a few key saves from Ten Hope the game ended in a 0-0 tie. Beverly out shot Saugus 24 to 18.
NZ Take
Beverly would have won by a lop-sided margin if not for the play of John Deveraeux. We were impressed with how well both Conor Hanlon and Steve Hallinan played together. In the third period Beverly made a line change bringing up Andrew Mezza from the second line, who played a great game at both ends of the ice. They produced chance after chance but could not convert. It would be interesting to see these two teams play later on in the season because it could end in a completely different result.
Three stars
1) John Devereaux (Saugus)
2) Steve Hallinan (Bev)
3) Conor Hanlon (Bev)