Ever since Middletown’s  hockey team moved to Division II play at the start of the 2010 -2011 season, it has proven to be Portsmouth’s nemesis on the ice.  Over those three previous seasons, on every occasion that the teams have played each other,  the Patriots have been unable to find a way to defeat the Islanders.  Middletown extended its unbeaten streak with Portsmouth last week when the teams met at the Abbey in the first of two scheduled contests this season.  Saturday night at St. George’s Cabot-Harman Ice Center the Islanders made it four seasons without a loss to the Patriots as they closed out the current year’s series with a 5-2 win.

When the play began the Patriots quickly found themselves back on their heels and fighting to get back into the game.  Middletown scored on its first shot of the game at just 11 seconds after the puck dropped to start the first period.  The Islanders followed that up with another goal at the 1:24 mark and looked to be in control of the game.  Following Middletown’s second goal, the Patriots found their game rhythm and generated several good scoring chances.  The payoff arrived late in the first period when Ryan Goulart, assisted by Kyle Alvanas, scored to bring the Patriots back to within one goal of the lead.  As it turned out, that was as close as the Patriots would get that evening to catching the Islanders.

In a penalty filled second period for both teams, Middletown padded its lead with two power play goals to make it 4-1 at the second intermission.  When the squads returned to the ice for the third period the penalties continued.  At one point the Patriots found themselves with a two man advantage on the power play and made full use of the situation.  With the Patriots skating five on three, Evan Alvanas one-timed a pass near the top of the left faceoff circle that shot past the Islanders’ net minder, and pulled Portsmouth back to within two goals of the Islanders.  Goulart and Myles Arkins were credited with the assists on the goal.  Any hopes the team might have had for capitalizing on its momentum to catch the Islanders vanished, though, when Middletown scored its final goal with just under three minutes remaining in the game.

Middletown  outshot Portsmouth 31 to 26 on the night.  Ben Hood between the pipes for the Patriots had 26 saves.  The Patriots were one for six on the power play, and were successful in killing off four of the six situations where they skated a man short.

Portsmouth plays again today at the Abbey at 5:30 PM.  Their opponent will be the Cumberland Clippers, who currently own the second best record in the league. After today, it will be two weeks until the team returns to play a game at the Abbey, so this is a good opportunity for you to get out and see the Patriots in action on their home ice.  Hope to see you at the game.