Written by Goffstown @ Somersworth, Rochester Ice Arena. 8:00 pm.
Goffstown traveled to Rochester to play their second night, distant road, game in three nights. The opponent this time was the Somersworth-Coe-Brown Bear Cats. Somersworth came into the game at 1-0, after beating Oyster River 3-2 in their home opener. As the teams lined up and the National Anthem was sung, the beauty of not knowing what was going to happen next was in play.
The first period saw both teams play pretty even hockey for the most part. Both teams killed off penalties (Hooking to Joey Morrisette and Slashing to Noah Charron) without much trouble. Both teams moved the puck pretty well, but the slight edge in offensive possession went to Goffstown. Then, with just less than 24 seconds left in the period, Goffstown’s Tyler Riendeau scored his first goal of the game on a nice set up from Sam Greenwood. So, after one period, the visiting Grizzlies led 1-0 on the scoreboard, while outshooting Somersworth 9 to 6.
In the second period, the period of the long change, Somersworth raised their game on the offensive end of the ice. Before the period was over, the Bear Cats, would pound the Goffstown defense and goaltender (Colin Holt) with 15 shots on net, and several more attempts that were blocked, off-target, or caught up in the fray. The good news, for Goffstown fans, was that the defense and Colin Holt were equal to the task, and they held Somersworth off of the scoreboard. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, took advantage of the scoring chances they had. But first, early in the period, Max Lajeunesse beat a defender and skated in with a great chance to score. He ripped a shot that beat the Somersworth goaltender, Hunter Michaud, but the puck made direct contact with the post and glanced wide of the net. Shortly thereafter Noah Charron was called for a holding penalty and the Bear Cats went on the power play. Goffstown held Somersworth off of the scoreboard but they unleashed several shots with the man-advantage. After killing the penalty, Goffstown got a powerplay of their own when Jake Spainhower was called for tripping. With just 6 seconds left on the power play, Ben Roy scored for Goffstown after being set up by Kainen Lassonde and Noah Charron. The power play goal gave the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead. Later Brett Lassonde was whistled for hooking, and the defense held again. With 2:56 to play in the middle stanza, Tyler Riendeau struck again, scoring a goal created by beautiful plays executed by his linemates, Sam Greenwood and Max Lajeunesse, who both earned assists on the play. Spainhower was called for another trip late in the period, but Goffstown could not increase their lead. After two periods, Goffstown led 3-0, despite being outshot 15-7 in the period, and 21-16 through two periods.
Leading 3-0 entering the final period, it looked as though Goffstown came out playing a little bit too safe. Somersworth was playing and skating hard and taking the play to the Grizzlies. Goffstown turned up their own intensity and it wasn’t long before that paid off. Sam Greenwood made a nice pass to Noah Charron who beat Hunter Michaud in net, and the Grizzlies led 4-0 with 7:05 remaining in the game. The game would finish with no more scoring or penalties. Goffstown was outshot 8-6 in the period, and 29-22 for the game, but they did create the better scoring chances throughout. Colin Holt earned the shutout win by stopping all 29 shots he faced. Tyler Riendeau scored 2 goals. Sam Greenwood added 3 assists, and Noah Charron had a goal and an assist.
Goffstown returns to the friendly confines of Sullivan Arena on the St. Anselm campus for their home opener on Wednesday, December 23rd in a tilt against Pembroke-Campbell that is scheduled to face off at 7:00pm.