PEABODY — The Lynnfield boys hockey team turned tables on Cape Ann League rival Triton Saturday at McVann O’Keefe Memorial Ice Rink, storming back from a 2-0 second period deficit with five unanswered goals to vanquish the Vikings 5-2.
But it was the way the Pioneers (5-6) did it that’s the real story.
With Triton (7-5) on top 1-0 with under two minutes to go in the first period, the Pioneers were pushing for the equalizer on a power play. Instead, it was Triton that cashed in, scoring a shorthanded goal as the horn sounded.
In the second, things appeared to go from bad to worse in a hurry when Lynnfield went a man down after a penalty about five minutes in. The Pioneers’ penalty kill unit put on a clinic, denying any shots on goal to keep the Vikings from padding their lead.
Instead of a sigh of relief, however, the Pioneers shot themselves in the foot with another penalty just 30 seconds after killing off the first one.
This time, the Vikings had the upper hand, peppering Lynnfield goaltender Michael Marenghi with several shots until Evan Rocha broke free. He fired a bullet past Triton goalie Gavin Marengi to cut the deficit to 2-1.
“Rocha just ripped it past him on that shorthanded goal,” said Lynnfield coach Jon Gardner. “He did it earlier this year against the best goalie in the state. What was great was it’s nice to have our defense spark our offense, digging in, and protecting the net. That really got us going. When you are down 2-0 like we were, that was monumental for us.”
The game pitted Gardner and his twin brother and assistant coach, Jay, against another former Lynnfield High hockey standout. Triton head coach Ryan Sheehan said power plays can be a mixed bag.
“We were feeling good after our shorthanded goal and being up 2-0,” Sheehan said. “We had those two power plays and I know the power play can be either a momentum-builder or it can take the wind out of your sails. They did a good job of clogging up the neutral zone and not giving us easy entries. Sometimes, when that happens, you have to get back to your identity, which is just battle it out low and win it outright. The power play is not easy. It’s not a perfect game, especially when guys get lackadaisical on the power play attack.”
Lynnfield had plenty of chances in the second, outshooting the Vikings 14-2, but it was Triton’s Alex Pasquini (from Michael Taylor and Kyle Regnier) who opened the scoring a little more than six minutes in.
With less than five seconds left in the period, Josh Hersey was in the right place at the right time. He collected a turnover in the neutral zone and broke in alone on Marenghi, barely (by one second) beating the buzzer to make it 2-0.
After Rocha’s shorty (from Jack Neenan and Deven Henehan), the Pioneers came out flying in the third period. Owen Considine rifled a bullet past Marengi at the 1:48 mark to make it a 2-2 game.
Two-and-a-half minutes later, Considine struck again. He pounced on a loose puck just outside the crease and ripped it home to make it 3-2.
With less than two minutes left and Triton ramping up its attack, captain Jack Carpenter potted an insurance goal (from Tim Sullivan and Aidan Norton) to make it 4-2. Triton pulled Marengi with 1:30 to go. Will Norton silenced any doubts about a possible Triton comeback with an empty-netter.
Gardner said Rocha’s shorty was the turning point of the game.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “Our penalty kill hasn’t really passed the eyeball test in terms of blocking shots. Today, I give my guys a ton of credit. After they (Vikings) got that buzzer-beater on the PK, we told them we totally outplayed them and just had to get the next one. I can’t say enough good things about our guys. The whole team, everyone there bought in.”
Gardner singled out the play of forward Jarret Scoppettuolo.
“Jarret is 100 percent our most consistent player,” Gardner said. “He’s all over the ice. He has a lot of helpers and, yet, does things that don’t show up on the scoresheet. He’s just a pain to play against and has been phenomenal.”
The win avenged the Pioneers’ 4-3 loss to the Vikings in their season-opener. Gardner said his main message to the team was to play tough.
“They bullied us,” Gardner said of the last meeting. “They were rough in front of our net and taking liberties and our guys didn’t give as much as they took. We talked and I think the guys listened.”
Lynnfield hosts North Reading at 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday.
