PEABODY — For many stretches of Saturday’s Cape Ann League boys hockey matchup with Amesbury it looked as if it just wasn’t Lynnfield’s day.
But when the Pioneers needed it most, they got the job done in the third period to earn a 3-1 win at McVann-O’Keefe Rink, qualifying for the state tournament in the process.
“Amesbury is a vastly improved team since we played them in the beginning of the month (a 3-1 win),” Lynnfield coach Jon Gardner said. “So hats off to their coaching staff and their kids. Obviously it’s a product also of us. We just can’t seem to start the game on time. Our first periods are abysmal. Just getting outworked, outshot, outhit; and (Amesbury) is quicker to every foot race. That was problematic.”
Jack Hammersly, Danny Mack and Ronnie Tashjian scored for Lynnfield. Goalkeeper Jake Debenedictis (27 saves) helped steal this one with a bounce-back performance.
“He was real solid,” Garnder said. “He didn’t make anything look too spectacular because he was square, seeing the puck well and controlling rebounds. That’s great for him because he had a little bit of a hiccup last week. His first signs of showing some chinks in the armor. But he bounced back which is huge.”
Lynnfield’s penalty kill also once again proved to be a big strength, killing off four Amesbury power plays.
“Taking penalties hurts but our penalty kill has been solid all year,” Gardner said. “That’s huge. Having to kill a lot of penalties you can’t get your offense going, can’t get your forecheck going or get a flow. It kind of wears down some of your better players too. Unfortunately some of our top guys kill penalties. They do a great job of it so it kind of takes away their legs for 5-on-5 action.”
Despite being outplayed in the first 15 minutes, a 12-save period from Debenedictis allowed the Pioneers to escape the first period with a 1-0 lead.
Hammersly’s shot from the point took a friendly Lynnfield bounce and found the back of the net with just five seconds left in the period to put the Pioneers ahead 1-0.
Amesbury got it back in the second. Debenedictis made a pad save but the rebound went directly to an Amesbury forward who scored to tie things up at 1-1.
Three straight Lynnfield penalties kept Amesbury on the offensive the rest of the period but Lynnfield’s penalty kill was flawless.
The Pioneers missed out on a power play chance early in the third but they cashed in a few minutes later. Mack’s one timer lit the lamp this time and put Lynnfield ahead 2-0 with just over 11 minutes remaining.
With some of their top skaters worn down from the penalty kill, Lynnfield’s third line stepped up. Tashjian skated to a 2-on-1 with linemate Sean Robbins and fired a shot that found the back of the net to add a huge insurance goal and stretch the lead to 3-1.
“That’s a great job by our third line,” Gardner said. “Robbie went on the 2-on-1 and finished with his head up. That gave us some breathing room, which is appreciative because I’d rather have years added to my life then taken off.”
The Pioneers improved to 9-5-2 overall and 5-3-1 in league games and host Saugus Wednesday (8:15).
