by Paul Criscione
MVF-LAWRENCE MA: Last time these two teams met, it was a scoreless game late into the 2nd period. Not today! Masconomet steamrolled a chippy Triton Viking bunch, 8-0.
The Coaches opened the door and “Big Save” Johnny Anderson, led the Chieftains out for warm-ups. With PJ Criscione out for the year with the broken back, Coaches Panella and Roach rotated six defensemen: Mike Caputo/Jake Giacchino, Jake Jesi/ Cody Hesse, and Mike Jesi paired with Garrett Lafata, (former centerman, playing defense for the injured Criscione).
The Coaches welcomed Evan Fogarty, Edison Forbes and Mike Dooley to the forward corps, skating 4 full lines. LW Andrew Anzalone/C Jared Brann/RW Kevin McDevitt, LW Mike Major/C Vitaly Knowles/RW Mike Castro, LW Mike Dooley,(playing his off wing)/C Ryan Duval/RW Jake Esposito, and the Legion of Doom Line, the towering likes of LW Tommy Cashin/C Evan Fogarty/RW Edison Forbes.
Masconomet started quickly, scoring their first goal, less than two minutes in, Esposito getting the marker from line mates, Duval and Dooley. The Chieftains were applying constant pressure, one good shift after another. That was until a Masco defenseman coughed up the puck and Triton took off on a 2 on 0 resulting in a big save, from Johnny Anderson, foiling the breakaway bid.
The pressure on the Triton net would build, and even though this was the same backup Varsity goalie that shut out Masco for a period and a half, last game, the Chieftains today had their skating legs, and the puck moving, with crisp passing. Lafata corralled a loose puck in the defensive zone and found Knowles on the break out. Vitaly the executed a perfect bounce pass off the far boards to send Castro off with one man to beat. Castro used good puck protection and his speed to shake the final defender and got the goalie moving side-to-side before burying biscuit, 2-0 Masconomet. Just 18 seconds later, Giacchino went D to D, to Hesse, who found Cashin in the slot for the one timer, 3-0, Masconomet. The cover was off the goal, and Masco had begun to break Triton’s spirit.
Two more goals would follow, with Brann scoring on a helper from Mike Jesi, and Fogarty blasting one home from Forbes and Jake Jesi. Masco just took it to Triton with crisp passing, ringing body checks, and superior desire and puck movement. Defenseman Cody Hesse moved the puck to Dooley who found Jake Jesi for a scoring chance to end the period.
First period over, and off the bench came Jason Begley to relieve Big Save Johnny, who lived up to the moniker today, despite not being severely tested. Begley’s job was to keep Triton off the board, and for this he would be successful. The Masco passing game would continue to flourish with Anzalone moving the puck to Brann who found McDevitt right to the front of the net, fighting getting traffic for a golden scoring chance. Triton tried to clear Masco skaters from the danger areas, unfortunately #13, and #3, took matters into their own hands, handing Masco the man advantage. Great shifts followed from, the Major, Knowles and Castro line, as well as The Legion of Doom line, consisting of Cashin, Fogarty and Forbes. Forbes caught #3 the enforcer, cleanly behind his own net and blasted him halfway back to Byfield. #13 didn’t like Forbes banging his buddy, so he hit Forbes, and received a “hit to the head” penalty.
Great puck movement, Anzalone to McDevitt, back to Giacchino at the point, who slid the rock over to Caputo for a blast, save Triton. The good times continued with Major setting up Castro down low, save Triton. Not to be denied, Castro took a pass from Jake Jesi and converted, to make the score, 6-0, Masconomet.
No rest for the weary, as over the boards bounded the Legion of Doom line with Forbes moving the puck to Cashin, behind the net to Fogarty, who dished it back out front to Cashin, for three quick scoring chances that the Triton goalie stopped. Textbook shift by the Legion. Jake Jesi a slap shot, Brann a masterful tip, save Triton. Masco kept up the good puck movement, this time Castro to Mike Jesi, low to Knowles, and in front to Major, another Vikings save. Finally the passing paid dividends again with Major working the puck to Knowles, who found Lafata back at the left point for the one timer, to make it 7-0 Masconomet. The period ended with Fogarty sharing the puck with Caputo, who found D partner Giacchino. Then Duval slid the puck to Dooley who dished over to Esposito, save Triton.
“Keep up the good puck movement, “was the advice from the bench, as Connor Pellerin would relieve Begley early in the third period, in the net. Pellerin would work hard and handle the puck as only he can, to keep Triton off the board. Masco started slowly in the third period, making multiple “paddy-cake passes” resulting in multiple Masco turnovers. “Move the puck quickly, with authority”, was the advice from the bench.
The Legion of Doom line seemed to listen as Mike Jesi found Edison Forbes for a snapshot to round out the scoring, 8-0 Masconomet. Masco resumed its crisp passing with Fogarty setting up a creeping in Lafata, who blasted a drive from the point just wide. The 3rd period would end with Connor Pellerin coming out to challenge was played as 15 minutes of running time, and the horn sounded with Masconomet mobbing Pellerin for keeping the clean sheet, #25 Triton, and blocking his break away chance. Nobody handles the loose puck better than Pellerin.
The Coaches commented after the game. “Good Win, boys. Way to move the puck, plenty of tic-tac-toe, and excellent passing. We controlled the puck, we made the extra pass, and we broke their Varsity goalie’s will. Let’s work hard at practice tomorrow, and finish this week strong. Practice on Friday, and tough game vs. Bishop Fenwick, 8:50am on Sunday at Peabody Rink. See everybody there by 8:00am, JV Game day Dress Code.”
Final Score Masconomet 8- Triton 0, Season Record 13-1-0
NEXT GAME SUNDAY 2/5/12 AT 8:50AM vs BISHOP FENWICK @ PEABODY RINK