Portsmouth skated to a 3-1 victory over Toll Gate Friday night at the Thayer Arena.  The team executed its game plan and played very well in overcoming a rash of penalties and a tenacious opponent on its way to the win.  Their success gave the Patriots a sweep of the two game, regular season series with the Titans.

 

Toll Gate got on the scoreboard first with a goal at the 4:20 mark of the first period.  Despite the early lead, the Titans were unable to convert their advantage into any real momentum.  Only two and a half minutes later, Alec Roderiques erased Portsmouth’s deficit with his second goal of the season.  Assisting on the tally were Patriots defensemen Aidan O’Brien and Noah McHugh.  Captain Ben O’Hearn put the team ahead with a goal that turned out to be the eventual game winner at 12:13.  The goal came after a partial line change which gave Kyle McGowan and Christian Schenck the opportunity to pick up the assists on the goal.

 

In addition to the Patriots offensive success, their control of the defensive play in the first period was especially noteworthy during two penalty kill situations.  Skating shorthanded early in the period and again at the end of the first session the special teams held the Titans to only one shot on the first penalty kill, and two shots on the second.  None of those were particularly good scoring chances and Gage Aguilar, between the pipes for Portsmouth, easily made the saves.   Having outshot the Titans 8-6 at the end of the period, the Patriots carried a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

 

During the second period the Patriots successfully weathered another Toll Gate power play, allowing four shots by their opponent while skating shorthanded.  Despite being outshot by the Titans 12-6, it was, once again, a solid period for the Patriots, although the squad was unable to add to its lead.  Nearly all the Titans’ shots were from the perimeter and did not result in many good scoring chances.  Aguilar handled all of them to sustain his team’s lead into the second intermission.

 

Portsmouth picked up where it had let off when play resumed in the third period.  The team was again in general control of the game but was hanging onto a slim one goal lead, unable to put the Titans away for good.  The Patriots killed another penalty just before the seven minute mark, successfully holding the Titans at bay.  Then as the clock ticked down to 4:35 remaining in regulation play the game exploded with seven roughing penalties assessed in the span of just two minutes and twenty seconds.  Six of the calls were coincidental minors, three for each team, and so play continued as usual with five skaters on each side.  The seventh of those penalties was assessed with 2:15 left to play.  It went against Toll Gate and resulted in Portsmouth’s first power play opportunity of the game.  The team worked the man advantage until McHugh got a clear shot from just inside the top of the right faceoff circle.  The Titans goalie made the save but the rebound came directly back to McHugh who had moved to the bottom of the circle near the slot.  He immediately launched another shot that beat the net minder at 13:59 of the period.  Josh Arkins and O’Hearn were credited with assists on the goal.  The Patriots were up 3-1 with a minute left to play.  Toll Gate pulled its goalie for an extra attacker, but Portsmouth’s defense closed the door. With the situation well in hand and four seconds to play before the buzzer sounded, the Patriots took their eighth penalty of the game; a minor for cross checking.  The team won the faceoff in its own zone and controlled the puck as the clock ran out.

 

Portsmouth outshot the Titans in the third period 10-5, giving the team a 24-23 shot advantage for the game.  Aguilar made 22 saves to improve his overall record to 4-0 this season with a 1.68 goals against average, and a .913 save percentage.  The team scored on its single power play opportunity and did not allow a goal in five penalty kill situations.

 

Portsmouth is back at the Abbey tomorrow, Sunday, February 28, for a game with East Greenwich at 5:30 pm.   The Avengers are currently in first place in Division II, one point ahead of the Patriots who are tied for second place with RMR.  Portsmouth’s first game with East Greenwich, four weeks ago, was a closely played event which the Patriots lost in overtime.  This time it will be the Patriots looking to do the avenging on their home ice.  In addition to the game, the team is planning to officially celebrate the 30^th season of varsity hockey at Portsmouth High School.  A number of players from the first season team will be in attendance and will be introduced during the game.  There will also be special game programs to commemorate the event.  There are only two league games remaining in the regular season.  Both are vitally important in determining the final Division II standings.  The Patriots can definitely use your support.  Make it to the Abbey tomorrow to cheer the team to victory, and to join in the 30^th season celebration.  See you at the rink.