Brian Stone Memorial Christmas Tournament: Bow 0 at Goffstown 6

From J.F.K. Coliseum in Manchester, NH, December 27, 2018:

It was nice to show up to the rink and have the honor of listening to our National Anthem sung before the game. Being the first game of the day, the Anthem was played. The Bow Falcons and Goffstown Grizzlies, each entered the day with a 1-0 record in the tournament.

After a 21-2 shot barrage favoring Goffstown in the first period, the Grizzlies took the lead, but only by a 2-0 score on the scoreboard. Nate Currier did allow 3 goals over his 23:06 of playing time, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t make some tremendous saves, because he did. He actually made a save per minute, with 23 saves on 26 shots. Goffstown was able to get a pair of goals in the opening period with two tremendous shifts and/or long offensive zone possessions of the puck. First, Colin Burke scored at 7:49, on a pass from Isaac McGregor after the entire line had a supershift with passing, shots, rebounds, and possession. Then Griffin Cook scored at 12:10, from Brett Lassonde and Sebastian Beal after the Grizzlies had the puck in the offensive zone for more than a minute straight.

The onslaught of shots continued in the second period with Goffstown controlling the shots by a 14-4 margin. In the opening minute, at 0:43 to be exact, Griffin Cook scored again from Lassonde and Colby Gamache. Then after a pair of penalties, one to either side, Goffstown was shut down when relief goaltender, Jason Howe made a sensational left pad save on Grady Chretien’s scoring bid from the slot. Moments later though, Cook was at it again scoring on an assist from Sebastian Beal to give the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead.

In the third period, Jason Howe might have made the save of the tournament, but Goffstown still scored. While the Grizzlies were killing a penalty, Colby Gamache sprinted into the offensive zone and made a slippery move to extricate the puck from the end boards and a Bow defender. Howe had left the crease to possibly play the puck behind the goal line and dove back towards his crease, getting the paddle of his goalie stick down somehow in time to stop Gamache’s stuff attempt by the near post, but the puck stayed in front of the net where Grady Chretien tapped it into the open net for the shorthanded tally. Later in the period, Brett Lassonde skated a freestyle short program as seen in figure skating, with the puck, through the offensive zone, before ripping a shot into the twine to give Goffstown a 6-0 lead at 7:29. The goal was unassisted, beautiful, and the last goal of the game. Down the stretch though, Bow mustered several scoring threats, each of which was equaled by Maddie Sage in net, who recorded 13 total saves en route to her first career shutout victory.

Madeline Sage made saves on all 13 shots she faced in Goffstown’s 6-0 victory over Bow. It was her first career varsity shutout. (Sage photo)

Goffstown: Madeline Sage 13 of 13 (45:00)

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