Portsmouth had a power play goal, one shorthanded, and another in overtime as it grabbed a 3-2 win over the Toll Gate Titans Friday night.  The win at the Benny Mageira Rink at the West Warwick Civic Center was a welcome victory that snapped the Patriots ten game overall losing streak.

 

From the opening faceoff until the Patriots’ goal in overtime, the game was evenly contested.  It was not until the midway point of the second period before Toll Gate opened the scoring.  Trailing 1-0 Portsmouth continued to generate good scoring opportunities which eventually paid off with just over a minute left in the period.  With the team on a power play, Kevin Manning took a pass from behind the Titan’s net and stuffed it past the goalie to even the score.  Kyle Alvanas and Ryan Goulart earned the assists, and the teams went into the second intermission tied at one goal apiece.

 

Midway through the third period with the score still knotted 1-1, Portsmouth found itself in penalty trouble and on a long five on three penalty kill.  The Titans made their two man advantage pay off and took what appeared to be a commanding lead in the game with only 5:35 remaining in regulation time.  The Patriots penalty woes continued, and once again the team found itself skating two men short as the clock was ticking down.  Then, with just over three and a half minutes left to play,  Evan Alvanas grabbed a loose puck, and headed into Toll Gate’s zone on a breakaway.  Alvanas  made the most of his opportunity and beat the Titan’s goaltender to even the score once again.  Back in the game, the Patriots still had to deal with the remainder of the penalties, which they managed successfully.  At the buzzer to end the third period the score was still tied 2-2 and the game headed to overtime.

 

This was the first overtime game for the Patriots this year.  The extra session is a five minute, sudden-death period with the teams continuing to play five skaters on the ice.  If a team scores during the overtime the game is over and the winning team earns two points in the standings as they would for a win in regulation time.  The losing team receives one point for the overtime loss.  If neither team scores during the overtime period the game over, and is considered a tie, with each team receiving a single point in the standings.

 

Both the Patriots and Titans played excellent defense during the overtime, and each team generated only a single shot.  The first came from Toll Gate which Portsmouth goalie, Conor Struckman, handled to keep his team in the game.  The second occurred when Portsmouth’s Alec Roderiques took a pass from Kyle McGowan and fired it past the Titans’ goalie with just over a minute remaining in the game.  Roderiques’ goal was his third of the season and the first game winner of his career.

 

Portsmouth was outshot in the game 31-27.  Struckman earned the win with 25 saves.  The patriots had one goal on two power play opportunities, and successfully killed off four of five penalties they had on the night.

 

The Portsmouth Patriots will look to continue their new winning ways tomorrow afternoon, Sunday, February 9, when they host the Pilgrim Patriots at 5:30 pm at the Abbey.  The team has only three games remaining to be played at the Abbey this season, and this is the first one.  It is a great opportunity to see a game on the Patriots’ home ice, so head over to the rink and support the team.  Hope to see you there.