Lynn Jets give Conlon his first ‘W’ as their coach

LYNN – The Lynn Jets began their second season on Saturday evening by taking flight over Latin Academy, 6-1, at Connery Rink. It was the season opener for both squads.”We did a good job controlling the game when we played five-on-five,” said Lynn coach Joe Conlon, who began his first full season as pilot of the Jets and got his first ‘W’ as their coach. “Our penalty killers did an outstanding job as well.”Right from the opening faceoff, Lynn attacked the Dragons net constantly, peppering goalie Edward Meagher with plenty of rubber. Winger Jack Casale was robbed early on by Meagher at point-blank range. Moments later, teammate Tim Shirley’s slap from the point was gloved by the goalie.Soon after, the Dragons (0-1) were assessed the game’s first penalty, and the Jets quickly took advantage. Freshman John Finnegan picked up a loose puck to the left of the Dragons net, swooped in from behind the goal, and stuffed it past the left side of Meagher for the first score of the season.Lynn soon enjoyed a two-man power-play advantage just over a minute after the goal, but Meagher continued to stymie the Jets. Dan Casale attempted a play similar to Finnigan’s, but the goalie held the fort. The Dragons would soon begin the first of several power plays within the first two periods, but sophomore goalie Nick Comeau thwarted forward Marcus Egan to protect the lead.Lynn improved the score to 2-0 midway through the stanza. Winger Chris Surrette skated in on Meagher on a breakaway, but the goalie made the initial stop. However, teammate Eric Bransfield, following the play, knocked in the loose puck, which was lying to the left of Meagher, for the goal.Lynn was assessed a penalty shortly after the score, which soon grew to a two-man advantage for the Dragons. Yet the Dragons were continually held at bay by the Jets defense, as they couldn’t get off too many shots upon the net.The key goal of the contest came with just five seconds left in the stanza. With 15 seconds remaining, forward Dylan Bogart’s wrist shot was stopped by Meagher. Yet Bogart picked up a loose puck in front of the goal, and flung it past the goalie right before the buzzer sounded for a 3-0 edge.”That was the most important one for us,” Conlon said. “Coming right when it did, it gave us momentum heading into the locker room, and it was a big difference.”That momentum showed in the early minutes of the second period, when the Jets increased their lead. Defenseman Sean Crowley rang a blast off the far post from the left point less than two minutes into the stanza to give the team a 4-0 edge. Less than three minutes passed before Lynn struck again. Jeff Porter fired a slap from the right point, with his shot being tipped in by Casale for the team’s fifth score.Egan snapped the shutout midway through the period, as he worked his way around the Lynn net, and stuffed the puck past the right side of Comeau. Yet the Jets got that one back in the first minute of the final period. Latin Academy was attacking the Lynn end, and Bransfield was able to knock the puck away from a Dragon forward. Teammate Chris Surrette gathered the loose puck, skated in on Meagher all alone, and slid the puck past the goalie for the game’s last score.”The boys were waiting for this (the opener), and they showed up very focused,” Conlon said. “That’s the way I want them to be every game.”