Hockey: Comeback for the books boosts Peabody over Masco

North Shore hockey fans will have to search their memory banks to find a comeback the magnitude of which the Peabody hockey team pulled off in the final 1:40 of its game with Masconomet on Saturday at the Valley Forum in Haverhill.Until that point, the Chieftains looked like they were on their way to a 3-1 win in a battle of Division 2 North powers. Peabody, however, cut the lead to one with 1:20 remaining and then stunningly scored three goals in the final 35.2 seconds of regulation to somehow escape with a 5-3 win.Even Peabody (6-1) coach Mark Leonard was amazed at the dramatic swing in momentum.”I almost can’t explain it,” Leonard said. “It was just crazy and really kind of cool to be a part of. The whole momentum thing was wild ? The ironic thing is we had been playing one of our better games of the year.”The game was tied at 1-1 after two thanks to a first-period goal by Masco’s Brian Heurigal and a second-period shorthanded goal by Peabody’s Andrew Bucci. The Chieftains pushed back in front by two when Ryan Dooley and Vincent Zingarelli scored 1:13 apart early in the third.”We got a couple of bad bounces and they took advantage of them,” Leonard said. “Masco is a solid team that keeps coming at you.”With just under two minutes to go, the Tanners got a power play and converted when Derrik Pereira scored, assisted by Matt Rodgers and Mike Broughton to make it 3-2.With 45 seconds left, Masco was called for icing, allowing Peabody to pull Derek Savage for an extra attacker. That extra skater proved critical as Pete Sucharewicz banged home a Bucci rebound to shockingly tie the game at 3-3.”When we made it 3-2, the kids started to believe and then we were happy to tie it,” Leonard said.Masco called timeout to regroup but Peabody wasn’t done yet. Pereira blocked a dump-in attempt, turning it into a breakaway and beat Casey Tudor to give the Tanners the lead with 18 seconds left.Rodgers then iced the game 13 seconds later when he beat Tudor on another breakaway to complete the improbable comeback.Lynn 4, Revere 1At Connery Rink in Lynn, the Jets (8-2-0) rebounded from Wednesday’s loss to Gloucester with a solid win over their NEC North foe.”Any time that you can beat an upper division team, it’s a big deal,” Lynn coach Joe Conlon said.Jeff Porter scored twice for the Jets. Kyle Devin and Bucky Surette added the other Lynn goals. Jay Sasso had the goal for Revere.Gloucester 4, Swampscott 2At Talbot Rink in Gloucester, the Big Blue (5-4-0) fought back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game after two periods. But Conor Ressel’s two third-period goals were the difference as the Fishermen prevailed.Ben Favazza and Ben Chianciola gave Gloucester a 2-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. Swampscott rallied in the opening minute of the second as Trevor Massey and Sean Lannon scored 22 seconds apart to even things.Ressel scored at 1:53 of the third to make it 3-2 and added an insurance goal with 3:07 remaining.Danvers 4, Saugus 1At Rockett Arena in Salem, a three-goal third period helped propel the Falcons (4-2-1) to the win in an inter-divisional NEC battle.Kyle Larson, Peter Marshall, Chris Kontos and Tom Conway had the Falcon goals. Nick Sweeney scored the Saugus goal, assisted by Mike Kotowski, to make it a 2-1 game in the third.Shawsheen 5, Fenwick 2At McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody, the Crusaders (5-4-0) led 2-0 after one but the defending Division 3 North champs rallied for five unanswered goals to win.Ryan Adamson and Brett Kidik each had a goal and an assist as the Crusaders scored twice in the first three minutes to take the lead.Lynnfield 7, Pentucket 0At Veterans Memorial Rink in Haverhill, the Pioneers (5-2-1) remained hot as seven different players recorded goals in a dominant performance.Matt Kelly led the Lynnfield offense with a goal and two assists. Dylan Costa; Andrew Garbeno; Greg Meiniger and Jeremy Young each had a goal and an assist.Steve Corcoran and Chris Lang also had goals.Beverly 7, Salem 3At Rockett Arena