Although Portsmouth is assured a playoff berth this season, the squad’s hopes for finishing among the top four teams in the standings were dashed Saturday night when the Patriots lost to the Toll Gate Titans by a score of 4-3 at the University of Rhode Island’s Boss Arena.  The loss left the Patriots looking at a fifth to seventh place finish among the top eight playoff qualifying teams depending on how their final two games turn out next weekend, along with the results of other D-Ii contests.

 

Portsmouth’s difficulties with the Titans were evident almost immediately after the opening faceoff.  Toll Gate quickly grabbed the lead with a goal just 1:04 into the first period, and then followed it up with a shorthanded tally just thirty-one seconds later.  The Patriots struggled throughout the period to get something going in their favor.  Finally with one minute remaining in the period, defenseman Jack Cavanagh took a shot from the blue line that found its way past the Titans’ goalie to pull his team within a goal of the lead.

 

As one might expect in a game between the two most penalized teams in the league this season, penalties were a factor in the contest.  Each team was called for five minor infractions which resulted in four power play opportunities for Portsmouth and five for the Titans.   As noted earlier, Toll Gate scored a shorthanded goal while killing their first penalty of the game. Each team also had other shorthanded chances during the game but got nothing to show on the scoreboard for the effort.  But it was a Titans’ power play late in the second period that capped the middle session in which the Patriots were outplayed, and killed their efforts to gain some momentum in the game.  With just twenty-two seconds remaining before the second intermission, Portsmouth found itself with a player in the box for the third time in the period.  Toll Gate cashed in just eleven seconds later to reclaim their two-goal lead as the period headed to its finish.

 

When play resumed in the final period there were some times when Portsmouth appeared to be playing better, but it was not consistent.  During one of those stretches Noah McHugh notched his fifth goal of the season, an unassisted tally, to make it a one-goal game for the second time.  But as with the Patriots’ other efforts, it was thwarted only two minutes later by Toll Gate scoring its fourth goal; the eventual game winner.

 

In the last minute of play in the third period Portsmouth pulled goalie Matt Nordhill to add a sixth skater in a final push to tie the game.  The squad was successful in closing to within a single goal for the third time in the game when, with thirty-seven seconds remaining in the period, Tim Jackson drove home the team’s third goal.  But before the Patriots could repeat the effort and tie the game, time expired.

 

Kyle McGowan had two assists in the game, while Cavanagh and Jonah Callandret each were credited with one.  The Patriots were outshot in the contest 35-27.  Nordhill had 31 saves in the loss as the team’s record slipped to eight wins, six losses, and two ties.  Portsmouth had four power play opportunities without a goal, and gave up a single tally on five penalty kills.

 

The Patriots will get another crack at the Titans next Saturday, February 25, in the first of two weekend games that will close out the regular season.  For the second half of the home and home series, Portsmouth will travel to Toll Gate’s home ice at the Thayer Arena for a game at 6:00 pm.  That will be followed on Sunday by the season ending contest with the North Smithfield Northmen.  That game will take place at the Rhode Island Sports Center Rink, also known as the Route 146 Rink, at 3:40 pm.  The game will be the only meeting between the Patriots and Northmen this season.

 

Portsmouth is hoping to gain momentum in these final two games as it prepares to roll into the playoffs which begin the following weekend, March 3 and 4.  Take the ride to see the team and cheer them to victory in their regular season ending effort.  See you at the rink.