Salem Game recap

From our dedicated Reporter Chaimberg:

Eighteen seconds into their match against the Blue Devils, the Marauders found themselves a goal down.  Salem chipped the puck into Hanover’s zone, gained control behind the net, and fed a wide open forward in front of the goal for a one-timer.  Before the first score was announced over the PA system, Salem would have their second tally.  Hanover mishandled their breakout, and the Blue Devils quickly moved the puck back towards the slot, where a backhander beat L. Ratliff up high.  Two minutes – two goals.  Salem added a third score on a shot from the right circle, and despite a Hanover timeout, added one more goal less than two minutes later after another neutral zone turnover.  The Blue Devils capitalized on every miscue by the Marauders, who went into the dressing room down by four.

The teams collected a pair of coincidental roughing minors (Logan and G. Ratliff) to start the second period, but Salem was not slowed down by the increase in physical play.  Stinson, replacing L. Ratliff in goal, was unable to stop a shot from the circle, and was beat again when Salem executed a beautiful three on three rush.  Hanover was down by six and there was still more than half a game to play.  Coach Dodds seized the opportunity to mix up the lines to try to fire up the boys.  Kim and Lindsay were paired on a forward line, while Chaimberg moved back to a defensive role.  Whether Salem took their foot of the gas, or the line changes worked, the rest of the match was definitely more evenly played.  Thurston stepped up with some solid body checks, Smith, McCoy and B. Acker led the offensive charge, and Lyons rang a shot of the crossbar in the waning moments of the middle stanza. 

In the third, after five plus scoreless periods, Hanover finally got onto the goal sheet.  J. Acker lugged the puck up the left side, used a toe drag to beat his defender and fired a hard wrist shot that went under the goalie’s left arm.  Salem added a power play goal on a screened shot from the point to close out the scoring.