Lucky Seven

Hanover won their seventh straight game, defeating Nashua North 5-3, and tying the Titans for eighth spot in Division I.  The Marauders were without four seniors, resulting in increased ice time for many players. Jonathan Goff led the scoring with two goals, while Jin Kim, Jake Acker and Ben Acker added one each.  Luke Ratliff played another strong game, thwarting the Titans on numerous chances.  Eric McCoy and Patrick Logan (+5) were solid in their role as the top defensive pair. 
It was not a good start for Hanover, who gave up a breakaway in the first minute, forcing Ratliff to make a stop. Midway into the first, Ben Acker picked up the rebound of a Logan point shot and slid it into the net to get Hanover onto the scoreboard.   The Titans knotted the game at one, bottling up the Marauders in their zone before connecting on a shot from the circle. 
Early into the middle period Jake Acker gave Hanover their second lead of the day after his brother Ben hit him with a pass at center ice.  Young Acker brought the puck into the Nashua zone and let go a bullet that beat the goalie over his glove. Nashua had a golden opportunity to tie, but Ratliff stopped another breakaway, this time while Hanover had the man advantage.  On the other end, Goff made a nice play at the Titan blueline and fired a shot that found an opening at the near post to double Hanover's lead.  
A power play goal by Goff, on a beautiful two on one break with Gus Lyons, gave Hanover a three goal lead at the start of the final period.  The Marauder offense kicked into high gear, but the Nashua goalie kept Hanover at bay. With nine minutes to go, the Titans cut the lead to a pair as they finally converted on a breakaway, their fourth of the game.  The goal fired up Nashua, and they were able to get to within one goal as they scored a power play goal with six and half minutes left. Just six seconds later, Jin Kim slapped in the rebound off Ben Acker's wrister to give Hanover back a two goal lead.  Hanover was able to hang on for the
victory, as Ratliff stonewalled Nashua in the final minutes.  Hanover take on Exeter in their final two games. 

Marc Chaimberg will be broadcasting today's game (as he does all games) at  Mixlr.com/chaimberg
Give a listen if you can't make the trip today, it is a very entertaining way to follow the game.