Portsmouth’s hockey team closed out its regular season with a 3-2 win over the East Greenwich Avengers late Tuesday afternoon at the West Warwick Civic Center.  With all the other teams having completed their regular season schedules and the final standings already determined, the game had no bearing on the seeding for the playoffs.  With nothing on the line for either team, the Patriots sat five of the squad’s top players, and instead dressed and played everyone who had seen little or no ice time in games this season.

 

After allowing a goal to the Avengers in the first period, Portsmouth roared back with three tallies in the second period.  Connor Little scored twice.  Providing assists on his first goal at full strength were Nolan O’Brien and Isaiah Kittel.  His second goal, scored on a power play, was assisted by Niklas Pedersen.  Matt Marion scored off an unassisted breakaway to net the third Patriots’ goal, which proved to be the eventual game winner

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Portsmouth outshot the Avengers 34-27 in the game.  Gage Aguiar in goal collected the win with twenty-five saves.

 

Game notes:

 

With Tuesday’s win, Portsmouth completed the regular season with a record of 11 wins, 6 losses, 1 tie, and 0 overtime losses, for a total of 23 points.  That earned the team fourth place in the standings and the fourth seed in the playoffs.

 

The team finished with the third ranked defense, allowing just 34 opponent goals, three of which were into empty nets.  On the other hand, the offense ranked ninth in the league, with only 41 goals scored during the eighteen league games of the campaign.

 

A tentative schedule has been floated for the first round of the playoffs that begin this week.  Portsmouth is expected to play at the Abbey on Friday night, then at the Levy Arena in Burrillville on Sunday.  If a game three is require to determine the winner of the series, it will be at the Abbey next Monday.  Presently the start times for the games have not been announced.  That information will be posted on the home page of this web site as soon as it becomes available.  The Patriots opponent in the quarter final round will be the fifth place Ponaganset Chieftains.  Make your plans now to see the games and cheer for the Patriots.

 

See you at the rink.