Portsmouth clinched a playoff berth Saturday night as the team defeated the Lincoln Lions 4-3 in overtime at the Rhode Island Sports Center / Route 146 Rink. The Patriots top scorer, Connor Little, led the way with two goals and an assist.  Max Dooley had the game winning goal and also logged an assist.  Joining him with two points on the night was Gus Nightingale with two assists.  Rounding out the scoring for the team was Ian Gerdin with a goal, and Niklas Pedersen with an assist.

The squad got off to a good start on Little’s goals, with one each early in the first and second periods. The Lions roared back with two goals of their own in the middle of the second period to tie the game at two goals apiece.  Gerdin’s goal put the Patriots back in front with about four and a half minutes left in regulation time, but the lead was short lived.  Lincoln tallied just forty seconds later to tie the game for the second time.  With no further scoring before the third period ended the game headed to overtime.  Dooley shot the game winning goal at just 1:55 into the extra session.

Game Notes:  While Portsmouth has secured a spot in the playoffs, its final place in the standings will depend on how the team does in its remaining three league games, and what happens in several key contests with other D-II squads.  In any case, though, the team will finish no better than fourth, nor worse than seventh for the playoff seeding.  Eight teams will qualify for the playoffs.  A good sized crowd of enthusiastic Lincoln supporters attended the game which was also the team’s senior night celebration.

The Patriots have a big weekend of hockey coming up next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  First on tap will be the team’s final regular season home game versus the Ponaganset Chieftains.  Ponaganset is likely headed for a second place finish in the division and is sure to be Portsmouth’s biggest challenge of the remaining games.   Prior to the contest the Patriots will celebrate their seniors with the team's traditional recognition ceremony.  The  program will begin Friday, February 15 at 7:00 pm at the Abbey, followed immediately by the game.  The next evening, Saturday, February 16 the team will travel to Warwick’s Thayer Ice Arena to play Toll Gate, for the only time this season.  The Titans have been struggling this season, but can never be counted out.  The game will be a “must win” to enhance the Patriots position in the standings as the season nears its completion.  Finally, on Sunday, February 17, at 4:00 pm, the squad will team up with its arch rival, RMR, in a charity event to support The Robin’s Nest, a new social skills academy for young special needs adults.  The game will not be your standard Aquidneck Island hard nose hockey grudge match.  Instead the teams will combine players and split into two squads each wearing Newport Whalers uniforms to celebrate the program in which they all played together when developing their on-ice skills.  All funds taken in at the gate, 50-50 raffle, Snack Shack, and any separate donations that day will be given to The Robin’s Nest.

Lots of great high school hockey coming up next weekend.  Come out and see some.  See you at the rink.