Palmer stops 46 shots in fourth win of the season
Scannell tallies second game-winning goal of his career |
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (January 19, 2018) – The Stonehill College ice hockey team was able to fight back after being down 2-0, to take the second game of a three-game series, 3-2, against Saint Michael's College at Cairns Arena, Friday night.
Stonehill (5-10-1, 3-4-1 NE10) saw Jack Scannell (Medfield, Massachusetts/Proctor Academy) notch the game-winning goal and his second multi-point game of his career with a goal and an assist. Ryan Smith (Arlington, Massachusetts/Tilton School) and Conor Cassidy (Wilmington, Delaware/Canterbury and Kents Hill) also put one in the back of the net, as Jack Hall (Shelburne, Vermont/Proctor Academy), Nick Schofield (Foxboro, Massachusetts/Williston Northampton) and Christopher Page (Winthrop, Massachusetts/Winthrop) each registered an assist. Junior goaltender Billy Palmer (Cranston, Rhode Island/Boston Bandits – EHL Premier) saw his 14th career game with 40-plus saves, stopping 46 shots in the victory
Saint Michael's (8-7-1, 5-3-0 NE10) saw two different goal scorers, including Sel Narby and Patrick Doherty, who each chipped in their third goal of the season. Eric Salzillo registered two assists, while goaltender Tim Decker recorded 23 saves in the night.
The Purple Knights dominated the first 10 minutes of the game, with multiple back-to-back shot opportunities. The Skyhawks responded with a few of their own, including a three-shot try at the 11-minute mark before Narby was able to slot the puck at 11:40 from between the circles off a pass from Salzillo and Doherty for a 1-0 advantage in the first period. Three minutes later, Saint Michael's was able to send another to the back of the cage, as Salzillo slapped a pass to Doherty who slotted the puck off the left post at 14:59. Stonehill was able to cut the deficit to one, 2-1, with Smith's third goal of the season at 15:39 sending the puck under the goaltender's arm. The Purple Knights went 0-for-2 in power plays during the first period, as they also held a 17-7 shot advantage.
Smith nets his third goal of the season |
The second frame was very defensive, as Stonehill caught up in shots but Saint Michael's still ended ahead with 15-10. The Skyhawks were able to score the equalizer at 16:49 in the period as Hall recorded back-to-back shots that were blocked but the second was collected by Cassidy who picked up his sixth goal of the season. Decker had nine saves during the period, including a glove save with 27 seconds remaining from Nicholas Godin (New London, New Hampshire/Tabor Academy), while Palmer stopped all 15 shots including a one-on-one pad save at the three-minute mark and a glove save at 12:32.
Stonehill kicked off the third period with five shots on goal, including the go-ahead tally from Scannell, his fourth of the season at 2:34. Decker played the puck around the boards and dumped it down towards the Purple Knight's bench where Scannell sent the puck to the corner after the scuffle. Page send a backhand pass to the left circle, where Scannell was able to send a one-timer to the back of the cage for a 3-2 lead. Both teams each saw a power play opportunity in the third frame, while Saint Michael's also took Decker out for 1:58 to try and tie the game up with six skaters on the ice.
Stonehill closes out the three-game series with Saint Michael's College with an opening faceoff tomorrow, Saturday, January 20 at 4:00 p.m. at Cairns Arena.
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