With the top four teams in the Division II standings separated by just a single point, Portsmouth came away with a much needed win over PSW Saturday night at the Smithfield Municipal Rink.  With only three league games left to play in the regular season, the two points for the win kept the team in the hunt for first place and the top seed in the playoffs.

 

The Patriots were not at their best in the contest, but they scratched out a 4-3 victory over the co-op team from Providence Country Day, Saint Raphael Academy, and The Wheeler School, which made the best of its opportunities, scoring all three of its goals on power plays.  Although Portsmouth dominated the play at even strength throughout the game its shaky penalty killing allowed its tenacious opponent to keep the contest close right to the final seconds of the third period.

 

Portsmouth’s troubles began with its first penalty at 2:53 of the first period.  Just 48 seconds later the squad found itself down 1-0 as PSW’s leading scorer, Griffen Leonard, picked up a rebound at the right side of the crease and flipped it into a wide open net.  Patriots’ goalie, Matt Nordhill, who had stopped PSW’s first four shots had no chance to make the save.  Back at full strength, Portsmouth’s defense was solid once again, allowing its opponent only one more shot on goal during the remainder of the period.  At the other end of the ice, the Patriots put eight shots on goal but were unable to get the puck past PSW’s net minder.

 

The second period began as almost an exact replay of the first.  At 2:57 Portsmouth found itself shorthanded for the second time in the game.  This time PSW needed only 23 seconds to score off a rebound after a number of their players crashed the net.  Having played less than three and a half minutes of the second period and already down 2-0 it was time for the Patriots to get back into the game.

 

As play resumed after PSW’s goal, the Patriots top scoring line was on the ice.  Toward the end of their shift, Josh Arkins sent a pass to Ben O’Hearn who carried the puck into the PSW zone.  With skillful skating and some nifty stickhandling, O’Hearn picked his way through several defenders and launched a hard shot from high in the slot that beat the PSW goalie cleanly.  The tally at 4:10 of the second period pulled the Patriots to within a goal of their opponent.  It appeared that the momentum had shifted in favor of Portsmouth, but another penalty at just under six minutes into the period slowed the squad’s comeback.

 

After PSW scored early in the period, the Patriots allowed their opponent only one more shot in the remaining 11:37 of the period.  That shot came during Portsmouth’s second penalty kill of the period.  Nordhill handled that one easily and the team’s defense shut down any further threat from PSW for the rest of the period.  Back at even strength, the Patriots continued to pressure PSW’s goalie, but were unable to draw even with the score before the period ended.  As the teams headed to the locker rooms for the intermission, the Patriots had outshot PSW 16-9 to that point in the game, but trailed 2-1 on the scoreboard.

 

As the third period began, the Patriots stepped up their play at both ends of the ice.  The payoff came at the 3:50 mark when Evan Alvanas, at the right side of the PSW goal, centered the puck to Arkins who stuffed it into the back of the net from point blank range to tie the score.

 

Shortly after Arkins’ goal, the team had a good opportunity to break the game open as it went on its first and only power play of the game.  Just 20 seconds after the score was tied, PSW was called for tripping twice in the span of just six seconds.  The long five on three power play should have produced some good scoring chances, but the squad managed only one shot on goal, despite the two man advantage.

 

Midway through the period, with a player in the penalty box once again, Portsmouth was back to skating a man short for the fourth time in the game.  The tight penalty killing held PSW without a shot during their man advantage, but the real excitement came when Arkins intercepted the puck and raced down the ice on a clean shorthanded breakaway.  Looking to put his team in the lead, Arkins fired a shot and was stoned by the PSW goalie. The game remained tied at two goals apiece.

 

With the time remaining in the period becoming a factor, Cam Mello won a faceoff in the left circle of the PSW zone.  The puck was controlled by Alec Roderiques along the left side boards who then passed it to Noah McHugh on the blue line.  McHugh moved to the right and, and sent a low slapshot toward the net.  The puck found its way through the traffic in front of the goal and between the goalies pads.  Portsmouth had the lead with three minutes remaining in regulation time.

 

PSW managed its first shot of the period with two minutes remaining in the period.  Shortly afterward, in an attempt to tie the game, their coaching staff made the decision to pull their goalie for the extra skater.  With 1:11 remaining on the game clock, Alvanas got the puck and notched an empty net goal to pad the team’s lead.  But things happen fast in hockey games, and this one wasn’t over yet.

 

With 57 seconds remaining before the horn to end the period, Portsmouth was called for its fifth minor penalty of the game.  It took PSW just 14 seconds to score their third power play goal of the game on only their second shot of the period.  With 43 seconds left to play in regulation time, the Patriots lead was down to a single goal once again.  And winning was still not a sure thing.

 

Portsmouth took its sixth penalty of the game with eight seconds left to go in the period.  PSW once again pulled its goalie, giving them a two man advantage over the Patriots.  With the puck being dropped in Portsmouth’s zone, PSW was, hoping to increase their chances for a quick shot on goal off the faceoff.  The Patriots put an end to that when O’Hearn won the faceoff and his teammates tied up the puck in their own zone until the horn to end the game.

 

Portsmouth outshot PSW 27-11 overall.  Nordhill had eight saves in logging his ninth win of the season.

 

Next Friday, February 26, at 8:00 pm, Portsmouth will take on the Toll Gate Titans at the Thayer Ice Arena in Warwick.  As the team rapidly heads toward the end of the regular season, every game is important.  Support the team as it makes its drive to the playoffs.  Come watch the game and cheer for the Patriots.  See you at the rink.