Written by Saturday, January 9, 2016. 730pm @ Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – Timberlane @ Goffstown.
The Goffstown Grizzlies seemed a bit anxious to get out on the ice and play another hockey game after a long break between the Bauer Christmas Classic and a home loss to Merrimack earlier in the week. Before getting to the breakdown of the game, I will say that Goffstown did ultimately come to play hockey on Saturday night.
Some highlights for the Grizzlies tonight:
- Nick Nault scored a hat trick with goals and he also added an assist
- Tyler Riendeau had a goal and 3 assists
- Sebastian Beal dished out 4 assists
- Dylan Hyers scored a goal and assisted on 2 others
- Ethan Smith recorded his first shot faced and save in net
The first four plus minutes of the game were, for the most part, a total mess. The puck seemed to be playing its’ own game of keep away from both teams as Timberlane and Goffstown skated up and down the ice with little control of the black disk. Finally shape started to take form. Goffstown got on the board when Noah Charron (5) scored on a nice play set up by Sebastian Beal and Kainen Lassonde. Five minutes later the Grizzlies scored again. This time it was Kainen Lassonde (2) scoring on an assist from Beal. Later in the period, Sam Greenwood would hit the crossbar with a shot. Then Ben Roy skated in on a complete breakaway while short-handed only to be denied by Eric Mills in net for Timberlane. Greenwood who finished serving his minor penalty for high-sticking would get a beautiful pass from Nick Nault and rifle a one-timer right off of the post. All in all, the Grizzlies got the better of play and led 2-0 after fifteen minutes of play. Goffstown also outshot the Owls from Timberlane, 9-5.
In the second period the dam burst, and the Grizzlies put the game away, scoring five goals in a 7 minute span. Tyler Riendeau (3) got his third goal of the season when Nick Nault and Colin Burke set him up. Then 12 seconds later Sam Greenwood (3) didn’t draw iron, but rather tickled the twine with assists going to Riendeau and Dylan Hyers. Nick Nault scored two goals in 57 seconds, the first assisted by Noah Charron and Sebastian Beal. Nault’s second goal of the minute was assisted by Tyler Riendeau. Timberlane would break through on a nice pass play leading to a goal from Alex Passifiume, assisted by Chris Dowd and Kyle Wood. Goffstown would get that goal back when Griffin Cook (2) slid a puck into the net, set up by Hyers. Nault (4) would get his third goal of the period, and 4th goal of the season with the assists going to Brett Lassonde and Tyler Riendeau. The final Grizzlie goal went to Dylan Hyers (1) with assists to Ben Roy and Sebastian Beal. The Owls would score again, with just 12 seconds remaining in the period, when Ben Murphy scored a goal from Hunter MacRae and Chris Longchamp. Goffstown won the shot battle as well, outshooting Timberlane 14-6 in the period.
The third period featured a more passive approach from the Grizzlies although not taking their foot off of the gas pedal completely. There would be no scoring by either club in the final period. Goffstown would outshoot Timberlane 5-2 in the period. Goffstown backup goaltender, Ethan Smith would play the final 8+ minutes and made one save on the only shot he faced. The Grizzlies got valuable ice time for Jake Noonan, Stephen Provencher, Alex McCarthy, as well as Max Lajeunesse throughout the contest. Everyone on the roster (minus Mike Fortin who did not play due to sickness) got good ice time and chances to make plays at game speed. The Grizzlies improved to 4-1 on the season in Division II hockey, while Timberlane dropped to 1-6 thus far.
Goffstown returns to the ice at Keene Ice on Saturday evening (1/16) at 5:00pm when they travel to Keene to play the red-hot BlackBirds. Keene is 5-1 on the season and just blew out Merrimack 8-2. They have scored 31 goals in their last four games.