It’s been said that when you are watching a hockey game don’t blink or you’ll miss some of the action.  Things can happen very fast.  With less than three minutes remaining in Saturday night’s game at URI’s Boss Arena, Portsmouth found itself trailing the Narragansett - Chariho Gulls by a goal.  Time was running out.  Then in the span of just 55 seconds, Shane Temple scored three goals to not only give his team the lead, but the lead with an insurance goal on top of it.  The Patriots then shut down the Gull’s offense for the remaining time in the game and skated to an 8-6 victory, extending the squad’s winning streak to five games.

With four lead changes in the game, the high scoring contest had plenty of action including several “highlight reel” goals by Portsmouth players.  In addition to his flurry of goals to cap the end of the game, Temple had two others, and added two assists as well, to finish the night with a remarkable seven points.  Connor Rogers scored two goals, including one while the team was shorthanded with a player in the penalty box.  Tripped up by a Nariho player while on a breakaway, Luke Brule was awarded a penalty shot.  When he buried the puck in the Nariho net it ended four unanswered goals by the Gulls and began a mid-game rally which led to PHS taking the lead for the second time in the game. Brule later added an assist to go with his  goal.

In addition to the assists by goal scorers Temple and Brule, three other Patriots also earned assists on the night.  Ben West and Chase Pascoe each had two and Oliver Melanson had one to contribute to the team’s winning effort. 

Portsmouth outshot its opponent 37 to 31.  Patriots’ goalie Johnny Cabral made 25 saves along the way to earning his fifth win of the season.

Game note:

• PHS faced Nariho’s back up goalie, freshman Collin St. Pierre, in the game.  The Gull’s primary goalie, Morgan Campbell, was unavailable as he is recovering from a dislocated kneecap suffered during a game warm-up a week ago.  It is estimated he will be out at least another three weeks.  He could possibly return in time for Portsmouth’s second game with the Gulls at the end of the season.
• PHS’ 37 shots on goal was the team’s highest game total this season.  The squad has had 30 or more shots in each of its six games so far this season.

The Patriots continue their three-game road trip with a stop at the Benny Magiera Rink at the West Warwick Civic Center next Friday.  There they will take on the West Warwick Exeter West Greenwich (WWEWG) Knight-Wizards at 7:00 PM.  It will be the only game the two teams will play this season.  Then on Saturday the team returns to the Abbey for a game with the Coventry - Johnston Co-op Oakers, again at 7:00 PM.  That game will feature the Patriots annual Salute to Service in which the squad honors the staff and families of the players who have served, or are serving, as members of the armed forces or as civilian first responders.  The game will be preceded by a ceremony in which this year’s special honoree will be recognized and the team will wear its military themed uniforms for the game. 

Come out and root for the Patriots as the team looks to extend its winning streak.

See you at the rink.