Portsmouth’s leading scorer, Connor Little, led the way for the Patriots with two goals and three assists, including the game winning goal, as the squad downed the North Kingstown Skippers 5-2 Wednesday night at the Abbey.  Niklas Pedersen added two more goals and an assist, while Max Dooley rounded out the scoring with a single goal.  Defenseman William Hayes also collected an assist during the game.

The Patriots got off to a fast start when Pedersen scored the team’s first goal just twenty-nine seconds into the contest.  After Pedersen and Little added two more first period goals to establish a comfortable lead, the team allowed the Skippers to pull back within a single tally when its opponent scored at the end of the first period and the beginning of the second.  Portsmouth reestablished its game and took control midway through the third period with Dooley’s goal, then sealed the deal with an empty netter by Little.

Portsmouth was outshot by the Skippers 25-21 in the game.  Sam Stamoulis between the pipes for the Patriots had 23 saves.  While there were not a lot of penalties in the game, North Kingstown had four and Portsmouth had three, four of the seven goals in the game were scored on power plays.  The Patriots tallied three times in four opportunities with the man advantage, while the Skippers cashed in on one of three power plays.

Game Notes:  Little’s five point game was the first for a Portsmouth player since December 26, 2014, when Josh Arkins had a goal and four assists in a game with Toll Gate.  Fans could be forgiven if they had a feeling of déjà vu last night.  When the Patriots and Skippers met earlier in the season in a non -league game during the Christmas Tournament at URI, the score was also 5-2.  Not only that, but in that game Portsmouth also got out to a three goal lead before allowing the Skippers back into the game with two goals, then the team finished with two third period tallies, the final an empty netter by Little.  Oh, and Little starred that game as well with a Hat Trick and an assist for a four point night.

With this year’s shortened season, sixteen games instead of the traditional eighteen, the team has now completed three quarters of its campaign.  With four games remaining before the playoffs begin the Patriots currently stand in seventh place, with the top eight of the thirteen teams in the league to qualify for the post-season.  The squad needs one more win to ensure a playoff berth, but beyond that a wide range of possibilities exist.  The team’s fate is largely in its own hands with post-season seeding from fourth to eighth place possible.  So, get out to the games and root for the Patriots.

Next up for Portsmouth are the Lincoln Lions in a late game Saturday evening, February 9, at the Rhode Island Sports Center, better known as the Route 146 Rink.  The game is scheduled to start at 9:00 pm.  This is the only regular season game the teams will play together.  The Patriots’ previous meetings with the Lions have a history of being very competitive, with not much love lost between the squads.  With both teams vying for the same playoff spots, Portsmouth is expecting stiff competition.   This will be an exciting game.  Come out and support the Patriots.  See you at the rink.