Hockey roundup: Saugus settles for tie against Danvers

As the season winds down, every last point counts when it comes to the standings in the Northeastern Conference North. Thanks to a Rob Buchanan goal with 44 seconds remaining in the game, Danvers was able to draw even with Saugus, 2-2, at Rockett Arena in Salem.Both teams headed into the third period tied at one. Saugus gained an advantage after Kyle Powers scored on a feed from Tyler Stretton and Guy Capillo at 9:27. As the game was winding down, Brian O’Keefe and Jack McCarthy assisted Buchanan in the tying and point saving goal.For Saugus (6-1-7, 3-1-7 NEC), this is its seventh tie of the season, and the sixth time this season the Sachems have seen a third period lead become a tie.”This was a disappointing tie for us,” said Saugus coach Jeff Natalucci. “At this point, these ties in the third period are very frustrating. It’s tough that we can’t bear down in the third and win some games.”Danvers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on a Joe Strangie goal. Saugus knotted the score in the second period when Saige Tait and Ralph Paglucca found Mike Kotowski for the score.St. Mary’s 2, Gloucester 1At Talbot Rink in Gloucester, a night after clinching the Catholic Central League/Large crown, the Spartans (11-2-3) needed a third period goal from James Perkins to get out of Dodge with the win.”We really didn’t come to play, and give Gloucester a lot of credit, they challenged us all game long,” St. Mary’s coach Mark Lee said.The Spartans actually trailed 1-0 after one period on a goal from Gloucester’s Mike Russo. St. Mary’s tied the game early in the second on defenseman Nikko Markham’s goal, assisted by Connor Parent.Perkins notched the game winner at 2:52 of the third, assisted by Bucky Surette and Tommy Braswell.Swampscott 4, Lynn 1At Rockett Arena, the game was tied at the end of the first period, but Swampscott pulled away with a goal in the second and two in the third. Nunzio Morretti had two for the Big Blue with Gino Cresta and Corey Carmody each adding one. Jordan Morelli had the lone Lynn goal with John Finnigan and Kyle Martin getting the assists.”We just didn’t play well defensively,” Jets coach Joe Conlon said. “We didn’t play smart and they took advantage of our mistakes.”Swampscott coach Gino Faia said his team has been playing better as the season has progressed.”We’re finally starting to come around,” he said. “We’re a young team and we’re finally starting to get it. Hopefully we can build off it.”Swampscott is 6-9-1 and Lynn is 3-11-1. Nick Comeau (30 saves) was in net for the Jets and Patrick Gavin (26 saves) got the win for Swampscott.Marblehead 10, Salem 1At Rockett Arena in Salem, the Magicians (10-4-3) got a pair of goals from both Alex Whitmore and Hunter Graves and a goal and three assists from Austin Haley as they steamed past the Witches.Jake Kulevich added a goal and two assists while Ryan Dempsey had a goal and an assist. Brendan Lydon, Cam Rowe and Tom Koopman also had goals.Winthrop 9, Peabody 0At Larsen Rink, the Vikings ran their unbeaten streak to 12 games with a lopsided win over Northeastern Conference North leader Peabody. Goalie Steve Waite recorded his fourth shutout.Offensively, Joe Scarfo and Chris Leblanc each had two goals and an assist while linemate Nick Clewer had two assists. Freshman Chris Page, Matt Todisco, Tyler Pettee, Bob Clewer and Mitch Paulson supplied the other five goals.”We were just really prepared for the game,” Winthrop coach Dale Dunbar said. “We played really well in all aspects of the game. We’re starting to hit our stride at the right time.”The win tightens up the race for the top spot in the NEC North with Peabody leading, followed by Beverly and then Winthrop (9-2-4, 6-2-3), which is four points behind the Tanners (9-3-3 overall, 8-2-3 NEC North) and two behind the Panthers. There are five teams within a six-point spread in the league.”It was not a good night for the Tanners. We’re a little beat up and it showed tonight against one of the best teams in our league