As the Patriots have done all too often this season, the team got off to a bad first period start and by its end found themselves down 3-0 to the Barrington Eagles in Game 1 of the semi-finals of the Division II state championship tournament Thursday evening at the Abbey.  In most cases during the campaign, the team was able to recover and come back for the win in the latter two periods.  But this time, even though they outplayed and outscored Barrington in the remainder of the game, the deficit was too much to overcome, and Portsmouth lost to the defending champion Eagles by a score of 4-2.

 

Each of Barrington’s goals in the opening period came off of turnovers well inside Portsmouth’s defensive zone.  When the errors occurred the Patriots were not organized for effective defense and the Eagles, the highest scoring team in the regular season, capitalized on the mistakes.

 

In most cases when a team scores three unanswered goals in a period, especially when the final tally comes just seven seconds before the end of the period, there is little doubt which team has the game momentum.  In most cases that is true, but the Patriots have demonstrated throughout the season that they are skilled at making come-backs.  And so they refocused during the short first intermission, and went back to work at the start of the middle period.

 

When the puck dropped, it did not take long to produce results.  Just thirty-one seconds into the period, Cam Mello scored, assisted by Tim Jackson, and Christian Schenck.  Barrington’s lead was cut to two, and the Patriots were back in the game.  The Eagles regained their three-goal lead with 5:53 remaining in the session, but Portsmouth closed the gap once again just a minute and fifteen seconds later.  Jack Cavanagh launched a blistering shot from the left, just inside the blue line, that deflected off a Barrington player and into the net.  The Patriots had pulled to within two goals once again.  When the buzzer sounded to end the period, the score was 4-2.  Portsmouth was in the game.

 

With good effort in the third period, the Patriots kept the Eagles off the scoreboard, while carrying the play to their opponent.  But despite the energy and determination, the squad was unable to score.  With the scoreless third period completed, Portsmouth fell behind 1-0 in games in the best of three series.

 

Hockey can be a game of inches and there is often a certain amount of luck in how the puck bounces.  In the second period the Patriots had a player fan on a shot five feet from a wide open net.  In the third period, two players rang shots off the crossbar and goalpost. And on several occasions late in the game the puck slid through the Eagles goal crease with no one able to get a stick on it to drive it into the net.  Had any of those opportunities gone the other way it could have been a completely different outcome.  But give credit where it’s due.  Despite being outscored 2-1 by Portsmouth after the first period, the Eagles did what they needed to do to earn the win.  Still, Portsmouth showed that the squad can play with Barrington, and have the ability to defeat the top seeded team, if they can make the adjustments needed for Game 2

 

Each team had three minor penalties which resulted in two power plays for each squad.  No power play goals were scored in the game.  Portsmouth was outshot 33-20 in the contest.  Matt Nordhill, in goal for the Patriots had 29 saves.

 

Game 2 is tomorrow, Friday, March 16 at 6:00 pm, once again at the Abbey.  Portsmouth will be the home team for that game, as the squad looks to even the series and force a deciding Game 3 to be played Sunday.  It’s the biggest game of the season.  Get to the Abbey and cheer for the Patriots.  See you at the rink.