Portsmouth made the trip back to the West Warwick Civic Center and the Benny Magiera Rink to meet with the WWEWG Wizards one more time to decide which team would advance to the semifinals. 

Shane Temple got the team off to a fast start scoring the Patriots’ first goal just 36 seconds after the puck dropped to start the game.  It was the only goal scored in the first period, but before the game was done Temple would add three more, including the game winner, to his total for the evening. 

The Patriots added five more second period goals, While allowing two for the Wizards.  When the horn sounded to mark the start of the second intermission Portsmouth had a commanding 6-2 lead and the Wizards’ frustrations boiled over.

The end of the second period saw an unusual occurrence for a high school hockey game: an actual fight.  When the referees got everyone separated and the penalties sorted out, five players were ejected from the game and disqualified.  Three of the players were from PHS and two from WWEWG.

Portsmouth added three more goals in the third period but the Wizards did not give up their efforts at a comeback.  Despite being down six goals, the team pulled its goalie for an extra skater midway through the third period when the Patriots were called for a minor hooking penalty.  The result had them skating six on four, but it was to no avail.  Just 48 seconds into the penalty kill Chase Pascoe fired the puck into the Wizards’ open net for the shorthanded goal.  The tally brought the score of the game to 9-2 in favor of the Patriots.

With a seven goal advantage and only half of the third period remaining to play, the Wizard still continued their efforts.  By the time the horn ended the game they had outshot the Patriots a by over a two to one margine; 50-24.  Portsmouth goalie Johnny Cabral made a career high 48 saves to carry the team into the semifinal series.

Beside Temple and Pascoe, Portsmouth’s other goal scorers were Connor Rogers with two goals and Hayden Krzych and Hadrian Doughtry who each had one.

Game Notes:

• Along with his four goals, Shane Temple had two assists to finish the game with six points.
• Connor Rogers had an assist to go with his two goals for three points on the night
• Chase Pascoe’s shorthanded goal was his third of the season.  He has three of the team’s four shorthanded goals this year.