Lynn Jets drop close one to Winthrop

LYNN – Following a 3-2 Jets loss to Winthrop on Saturday evening at Connery Rink, Lynn boys hockey coach Joe Conlon and counterpart Dale Dunbar shared a similar, if not identical mindset on an entertaining game that was as close as the final score suggested.Both state-tournament bound coaches believed each team was worthy of at least one point in the contest and respected the officials? decision following a debatable game-winning goal.The play in question came at the midpoint of a wild four-minute sequence early in the second period, which capped the scoring.After the hosts cut a 2-0 deficit in half just 52 seconds in on a tally from Ryan MacDonald (assisted by Corey Wojewodzic), the Vikings responded with a short-handed strike.Following captain Chris Page?s boarding infraction at 11:45, Winthrop (14-5) stole back the momentum when Dylan Driscoll (2 goals) converted on a breakaway with a move to the backhand.Several members on the Jets side (skaters and fans) firmly believed the puck never crossed the goal line after deflecting off the left post, but as both coaches would later agree, the referees? word is law.?I didn?t get a good look at it from our bench at the other end,” explained Conlon. “The officials said they saw it go in, so there?s not much else to say. It was a tough break, but that goal didn?t cost us a chance to win.”Dunbar mirrored the sentiment.?I couldn?t tell from my angle on the bench either,” said Dunbar. “At the end of the day, the referee said it was in and that?s all that matters.”Lynn (13-6) shrugged away any self-pity and grabbed the game?s final goal via the power play, just 48 ticks later.After a Noah Hodgkins boarding minor and an ensuing Vikings timeout, Mark Brazell took a feed from MacDonald in the left circle before his short-side bid beat Tommy DiBenedetto to the top shelf.?Both of our goals tonight were products of hard work on the wall down low,” said Conlon. “Winthrop does a great job at protecting their goalie but we finally managed to create some offense in that second period.”A scoreless third period would see the visitors claim a 9-4 shot advantage but thanks to Lynn netminder Jack Stafford (21 saves), the game stayed within reach. Lynn threatened twice on goal-mouth scrums but DiBenedetto (12 saves), normally the backup, stood tall.?I think it?s important to have two game-ready goalies heading into the postseason,” said Dunbar. “I wanted to get Tommy a start in a hostile environment, and he responded nicely tonight.”The first period saw the Vikings jump out to a quick 2-0 lead, with tallies only 51 seconds apart, the first coming on the power play.At the 10:35 mark, Driscoll was left alone at the top of the crease before finishing off a pass from John Orlando, who controlled the puck behind the cage. Shortly after, Page doubled the lead with help from his brother, Charlie.?We got in a hole early against one of the toughest teams to play from behind against,” lamented Conlon. “It?s so tough to come from behind against these guys, but we did to an extent. We gave it our all but came up just short.”Once more, Dunbar provided an echo.?Lynn deserved a better fate than they got tonight,” Dunbar concluded. “They could have easily tied or won this game and you have to give them a lot of credit for battling. Joe?s a great coach who always has them ready to go, especially against us, but we found a way to hold on.”