Billerica, MA – For our next playoff game of the night we got eyes on another D2 matchup: the Billerica Indians against the Amesbury Redhawks. We did not arrive in time for puck drop to this game as we were finishing up the matchup between Concord-Carlisle and Melrose. Once we arrived at the rink, unsurprisingly, it was jam-packed with the local crowd filling the stands and bringing the noise on every rush. There is something special about playoff hockey in Billerica – we couldn’t turn it down.
As we walked in the home team had a 2-0 lead but the game was at a critical juncture in the first as Amesbury was making a push in a 5-on-3 situation. They would claw their way back into the game with a power play tally by senior Logan Pickering with an assist from junior Evan Murphy with five minutes to go in the frame to make it 2-1. Just a few minutes after the penalty expired, Billerica would answer as junior Jake Cataldo fed senior Shawn Tierney to make it 3-1 which would be our score after one.
In the second period, Billerica would turn the dials up to 11 and they were off to the races. They maintained puck possession for most of the period and put the game to bed in the middle frame. Just 3:43 in they would extend the lead to three as a defensive zone turnover led to a rocket below the dots from Tierney to make it 4-1. They would pad that lead three minutes later as Tierney sent in Cam Smith on a partial breakaway and he held off the defender to give his team a 5-1 lead. Just over a minute later came another score for the Indians as Timmy Murphy won a puck behind the net and dished it to Tierney who wired it home 5-hole to complete the hat trick to make it 6-1. Amesbury was clearly frustrated at how the game was progressing and that led to a frustration boarding penalty and a 5-minute misconduct. That penalty would end any chances of a comeback as Billerica scored again with two minutes left in the period. Sophomore defender Owen Fitzmaurice shot a puck from the point that Murphy was able to tip home: the score was now 7-1 and that’s how both teams would head to the room.
In the third period, the gameplay was largely academic as the six-goal cushion per MIAA rules means the clock starts and it doesn’t stop for the full 15 minutes. Billerica pulled up on their full-scale attack, instead resorting to a puck possession style game. They took shots when they were available and added one more tally for good measure. It was Cataldo who fed Murphy for his second goal in as many periods and that would be the final addition to the scoreboard. Before the game ended though, one notable moment featured Pickering, on his final shift selling out and giving every ounce of energy he had looking to score one more goal before the buzzer sounded. He produced a great chance that was ultimately thwarted at the left post but his diving attempt left us impressed. Your final was 8-1 and Billerica advances to face the winner of Westwood and Mansfield.
Three Stars:
- F Shawn Tierney, Billerica
- F Timmy Murphy, Billerica
- F Jake Cataldo, Billerica