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Hockey: Goffstown 3 at Windham 6

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Goffstown Hockey, Hockey

From Icenter Salem in Salem, NH – February 2, 2019:

The trouble with being so emotionally tied to this team is that we only expect perfection. Or at least a level very close to it. In Salem on Saturday evening, the Grizzlies lost a game that I can only really define as extremely frustrating, to a solid, quick Windham club, 6-3.

Why so frustrating you ask? Well for me, it was that every time Goffstown looked to be in control, or about to come back, or even impose their will, Windham scored. They didn’t just score though, it was the manner in which they scored, and when they scored. The timing of the goals was more or less heart wrenching, which may be tied to that emotional connection I mentioned earlier. Grizzlies take a 1-0 lead, and then Windham scores a pair of goals in 15 seconds. Windham scores 24 seconds into the middle period. Then Goffstown dominates play with a goal that made it 3-2 during a span of 11 straight shots on goal, before a lazy clearing attempt which handed the puck to Tommy Langlois and he scored from a nearly impossible angle. After the goal, Windham got 9 of the next 10 shots, and Goffstown’s back had been broken. Even so, in the 3rd period, Goffstown cut the deficit to 4-3 on a gorgeous play. Moments later Goffstown committed a penalty leading to a powerplay goal for Windham and ultimately a last-minute turnover behind the net that gave Windham another freebie, and the game was done, 6-3. Perhaps I will add some detail as we go along, but that was the game in a nutshell. 
It’s not often, in my experience anyway, that during a high school sporting event pre-game National Anthem that fans were leaning and looking toward the booth to see if this song was being sung live, or what recording this might be. It was a live performance. It was the incredible Olivia Tsetsilas singing the National Anthem from the scorer’s booth at the Icenter Salem. She was outstanding as usual. People all around went beyond the customary golf clap and made an effort to be heard because Liv had connected with all of us. 
Thus the stage was set for the night’s main event, Division I Windham hosting Division II Goffstown for some hockey. The game started with both teams testing the waters and not too much really happening. Then 5:13 into the opening period Kyle LaSella made a really nice save for the Grizzlies as both teams were starting to hit their respective strides. At 6:03 of the period Colby Gamache got the Grizzlies on the board when he scored on a set up from Sebastian Beal. Several of us didn’t see the goal because we were looking at the clock and yelling to the booth for them to start the clock which they finally did after some 20 seconds or so. This would happen a few more times on the night. Both teams were giving and taking, and Goffstown was starting to get some rhythm. Then, lightning struck twice, and in a hurry. Windham scored at 12:36 on an easy pass to the slot where Alek Tunik scored on a feed from Matt Crowley. Somehow Windham was able to find a lane for the goal despite Goffstown having all 5 skaters below the top of the circles, and Windham had just 3 skaters in the same area. Fifteen seconds later Bobby DiCicco came barrelling down the right wing on a pass from Michael Blaschuck and put the puck past LaSella in goal for Goffstown. Colin Burke had pinched at the left point but missed the puck and got caught up ice without possession of the puck. Windham wasted no time and was off to the races. The Grizzlies didn’t skate with the same urgency as their opponents and the puck ended up in the net. The period ended with Windham ahead 2-1. Of note, many would be scoring chances for the Grizzlies were negated by the lack of the pass. Windham gave some space but not much in the middle of the ice. Numerous attempts to stickhandle through the traffic yielded nothing for Goffstown.
To start the second period, Windham scored in the opening 24 seconds. They got a goal on a shot that honestly looked like it might be wide of the nearside post when it left Alek Tunik’s stick. Somehow it got through LaSella and into the net. Assists were given to Owen Brea and Max Cavallaro. Goffstown had both defensemen back, but neither one tried to get in a lane or challenge the shooter. It was a back-breaking type of goal but Goffstown answered with a tremendous response. The Grizzlies would get the next 11 shots on goal and they were a threat to score on nearly every shift. In that run, Sebastian Beal netted a goal from the crease on a rebound of a Colin Burke shot at 8:57. Griffin Cook had the first assist on the play, and the score was 3-2. Less than a minute later, Colin Burke had time and space with the puck in his own end and made a lackluster (I called it lazy in my notes) pass attempt that went right to Tommy Langlois. Langlois was by himself, snagged the puck, and somehow scored from an impossible angle at 9:51. The goal gave Windham a 4-2 lead on just their 10th shot of the game, and only their second shot of the period. After the goal, Goffstown pulled LaSella despite being steady, if not stellar, so far this season. But the visitors needed to change the results they were getting last night. Madeline Sage came in to relieve LaSella. Then something else happened. Goffstown had been taking the play to Windham for several minutes and all of a sudden they were down a pair of goals again. Windham also then ripped off 9 of the next 10 shots on goal as the wind had left the Grizzlies sails. At 14:00 Sage made a beautiful left toe save on Windham’s Owen Larouco to keep it at 4-2. After two periods Windham led 4-2 on the scoreboard and 19-17 in shots.
Then the Grizzlies picked themselves up again and scored on a gorgeous play at 5:47. Sebastian Beal worked the puck to Griffin Cook who quickly found Grady Chretien out in front. Chretien wasted no time roofing a tremendous shot up were grandma hides the sweets cut the deficit to 4-3. The Grizzlies were pressing and kept on coming. Then behind the play, Eric DesRuisseaux was whistled for a slashing penalty at 9:05. It was a penalty, but it certainly was not anywhere near as severe as some plays by both teams over the second half of the game that should have or could have been called. Windham scored 25 seconds later when Alek Tunik netted his third goal of the night from Matt Crowley on a rebound after Maddie Sage had made a pretty good save on the first shot. Finally, the hill was too high to climb. Tommy Langlois picked the pocket of DesRuisseaux behind his own net and put a puck past Sage in net to give Windham their final lead of 6-3, at 14:18. Madeline Sage came in to play in the second period and played just over 20 minutes while making 17 saves on 19 shots, and she gave the Grizzlies some hope of a comeback after playing catch up all night. Let me say again that Kyle LaSella has been beyond solid this season for Goffstown, he just had an off night. I don’t know if it had anything to do with the Icenter Salem having the darkest rink in the state, but they should really turn on the rest of their lights.
Goffstown travels to New England College on Wednesday night to play the frighteningly good John Stark-Hopkinton team who are D3 defending champions and 12-0 this season. They have outscored their opponents 75-9. Yes, they have allowed just 9 goals in 12 games. 
NHIAA Hockey:
Updated Records:
Goffstown (9-3-1)
Windham (7-5-1)Icenter Salem, Salem, NH 
February 02, 2019. 5:40 PM Start:

Summary: 

Goals:

Goffstown: 1-1-1 = 3
Windham: 2-2-2 = 6

Shots:

Goffstown: 05-12-06 = 23
Windham: 08-11-10 = 29

Scoring:

1st Goffstown at 8:03. Even. Colby Gamache (15) from Sebastian Beal (22).
1st Windham at 12:36. Even. Alek Tunik from Matt Crowley.
1st Windham at 12:51. Even. Bobby DiCicco from Michael Blaschuck.

2nd Windham at 0:24. Even. Alek Tunik from Owen Brea and Max Cavallaro.

2nd Goffstown at 8:57. Even. Sebastian Beal (11) from Colin Burke (11) and Griffin Cook (19).
2nd Windham at 9:51. Even. Tommy Langlois unassisted. 

3rd Goffstown at 5:47. Even. Grady Chretien (19) from Griffin Cook (20) and Sebastian Beal (23).

3rd Windham at 9:30. PPG. Alek Tunik from Matt Crowley.
3rd Windham at 14:18. Even. Tommy Langlois unassisted.

Penalties:

Goffstown: 

Eric DesRuisseaux 2:00 Slash
Windham: 
Bench 2:00 Too many men

Special Teams:

Goffstown Power Play: 0 for 1.
Windham Power Play: 1 for 1.

Saves:
Goffstown: Kyle LaSella 6 of 10. (24:51)

Goffstown: Madeline Sage 17 of 19. (20:09)
Windham: Andoni Tsoukalas 20 of 23. (45:00)

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