Portsmouth made a sweep of its quarter-final playoff series with the Ponaganset Chieftains Sunday afternoon, downing them 2-1 to take the best of three match-up.  The Patriots now advance to the semi-finals where they will meet the top-seeded Barrington Eagles.

 

Heading into the game the memory of last year’s opening playoff round loomed in the background.  In that series the Patriots took the first game from the Chieftains, as they did this year.  But then Ponaganset charged back and won the next two games to take the series and advance to the semi-finals.  Portsmouth was determined to not let that happen again.

 

With two of the top goaltenders playing on two of the lower scoring teams in the league, the series was expected to be a low scoring affair.  Because of that, many were surprised at the 5-2 outcome of Game 1 last Friday.  Sunday’s contest returned to expectations and was more in the mold of the last two seasons of games between the squads.  Once again, as so often happened over the past two seasons, the game turned out to be a goalie duel.

 

The Patriots first goal came on a power play as the first period was drawing to a close.  Jake Fagan picked up the puck behind the net, skated around the goal and stuffed the puck between the right goal post and Ponaganset goalie, Curtis Briggs’ pad.  The wrap-around tally with just eight seconds remaining in the period put Portsmouth on the scoreboard first, and gave the team a lead it never relinquished.

 

After a scoreless second period in which the Patriots killed six minutes of penalties, including one stretch where the team played a man short for four minutes straight, the squad regrouped for the third period.  Holding a slim one-goal lead, Portsmouth expected their opponent to come out strong when play resumed.

 

The Chieftains never had the chance.  Instead it was Portsmouth that roared into the final period.  Just forty-four seconds after the opening face-off, Christian Schenck gave his team a two goal lead.  It was his fourth tally of the series.

 

Despite the Patriots second goal, Ponaganset wasn’t done.  They ratcheted up the pressure eventually taking fifteen shots in the third period.  Still down 2-0 the Chieftains pulled their goalie for the extra skater with just under two minutes remaining in regulation time.  With only fifty-three seconds remaining before the final buzzer Patriots goalie, Matt Nordhill, lost his bid for the shutout.  In the middle of a melee in front of the crease Ponaganset managed to slip the puck over the goal line to close to within a goal of tying the game.  But that was all they got.  Portsmouth’s defense tightened up once again and allowed their opponent merely a single perimeter shot before the buzzer, which Nordhill easily handled.

 

Ponaganset outshot the Patriots 38-23.  Portsmouth had five minor penalties which resulted in three penalty kill situations, all of which were successfully handled.  The Chieftains had four penalties which produced two power plays, and the Patriots cashed in on one of them.  Picking up assists on the goals were Matt Marion, Nolan O’Brien, Cam Mello, and Schenck.

 

The team now moves on to the semi-final series against Barrington.  During the regular season the Eagles defeated the Patriots 5-2 and 3-0, with the third goal in that second game being into an empty net.  The bright spot in those games was that Nordhill, who played two and a third periods in the first game and all but two minutes in the second contest, allowed only two goals in each game.  As the league’s highest scoring team, the Eagles netted four or more goals in every other game they played this season.

 

The first two games of the semi-finals are tentatively scheduled to be played next Thursday and Friday, March 15, and 16.  If necessary Game three would be on Sunday, March 18.  It is anticipated that the entire series will take place at the Abbey since both teams call it their home ice during the regular season.  Once the dates are confirmed and the times set it will be posted on the home page of this website.

 

Meanwhile, plan on getting to the games to root for Portsmouth.  This round of the playoffs is one step from the state finals.  Come out and watch a couple of great hockey games and support your team.  See you at the rink.