Marlboro, MA – The Lunenburg/Ayer-Shirley Blue Knights traveled to the New England Sports Center in Marlboro to face off against their league rival, the Hudson Hawks. This was a top-shelf D4 matchup with both teams sporting 10+ wins. Hudson is ranked 10th in the MIAA Power Rankings whereas LAS was ranked 18th. Something was bound to give in this game as both teams jostled for better position for the playoffs.
LAS controlled the pace early, spending the majority of the period in the offensive zone and generating multiple quality shots from inside the slot. Hudson junior goaltender Brandon Garzia was sharp from the opening faceoff, making several key saves to keep the Hawks in the game. Defensively, LAS was strong and disciplined, limiting Hudson to the outside and not allowing any prime scoring chances. LAS also executed well on the forecheck, consistently dumping pucks in behind the Hudson defense and finishing checks, which made it difficult for Hudson to generate clean breakouts. The pressure paid off at the 8:30 mark when LAS opened the scoring. Senior Sean McGrath jumped on a rebound in the high slot and snapped a quick shot over Garzia’s shoulder to take a 1–0 lead. Both teams played a physical brand of hockey throughout the period. Garzia capped off a solid first with a quick pad save through traffic in the final 40 seconds, keeping the score 1–0 in favor of LAS heading into the intermission.
Hudson came out for the second period with fresh legs and immediately flipped the momentum. Their forecheck was fast and effective, pinning LAS in its own zone for the opening minutes and forcing turnovers. The pressure paid off with 9:42 remaining in the period when junior Timmy O’Malley cut across the high slot and ripped a shot through traffic, beating sophomore goaltender Jacob Karge to tie the game at 1–1. Hudson continued to control the middle portion of the period, winning puck battles all over the ice and consistently beating LAS to loose pucks. LAS earned a power play with seven minutes left after Hudson was assessed a four-minute penalty, but one minute later, LAS took a penalty of its own, sending the teams to four-on-four for two minutes. The open ice led to end-to-end action, but neither team generated a quality scoring chance. As the LAS penalty expired, they were whistled for another infraction with four minutes remaining, giving Hudson the man advantage. Shortly after, an LAS forward broke free down the left wing on a breakaway and attempted to beat Garzia five-hole, but the goalie got his stick down quickly for a tremendous save to keep the game tied. Hudson went on the power play again with two minutes left in the period and created a couple of scoring chances, but the period ended with the score still knotted at 1–1.
Both teams came out flying to start the third, trading rushes up and down the ice and generating several prime scoring chances at both ends. The pace stayed high until LAS broke through with 11:30 remaining in the period. Junior Owen Hurley slipped uncovered to the backside of the net and took a cross-zone feed from senior Andrew Nicosia. Hurley settled the puck and finished bar down past a sprawling Garzia to give LAS the lead. The Blue Knights would add to it later in the period, as McGrath once again capitalized on a rebound during a netfront scramble, lifting a shot top shelf over Garzia for the team’s third goal of the game. Hudson, however, didn’t go quietly. With 2:30 left, they earned a power play and made it count. O’Malley once again found open space in the seam, took a pass from junior Jordan Sousa, and snapped a quick shot past Karge to pull Hudson within one. The Hawks then pulled Garzia and spent the final minutes with the extra attacker, but despite sustained pressure, they were unable to find the equalizer. LAS held on to secure the hard-fought 3–2 victory.
Three Stars:
- F Owen Hurley LSA
- F Sean McGrath LSA
- F Timmy O’Malley, Hudson