Bauer Christmas Tourney, Day 4 Hanover 3- Memorial 2

With 5:13 remaining in the third period of a 2-2 game and his team on their heels, Captain Goff jumped out of the phone booth with a big red S on his chest. Forcing a turnover at center ice and then racing in alone to score a short-handed goal, he led Hanover to a 3-2 victory over Memorial and a third place finish in the Bauer Christmas Tournament on Wednesday night at JFK Coliseum.

Newcomer TJ Beaver opened the scoring for Hanover, and opened his career goals account, with a shot from the point that may or may not have been redirected on its way past the goalie.  Logan and Lehman were credited with assists on the power-play goal.  Unfortunately, the momentum was short lived as Memorial was able to get the puck past Ratliff just 18 seconds later after a goal mouth scrum.

The rest of the period was not much to look at, as both teams seemed to suffer the effects of playing their 4th game in 5 nights.  Hanover outshot Memorial 7-5 for the period

As the first period ended, a Marauder was sent off for a hooking penalty, giving the crowd a taste of what was to come.  With Logan in the box and Baker out of action for the night, the coaching staff was forced into using Smith in a penalty killing role on the back line, and he proved to be up to the challenge.  At the end of the pk, Smith jumped up to a winger role and promptly assisted on Stadheim's goal as the Marauders regained the lead to 2-1.  Acker was also credited with an assist on the play.

The rest of the 2nd period featured a succession of penalties on both teams, and neither team was able to convert.  The Marauders had 1:40 of 5 on 3 and moved the puck smartly, but failed to capitalize.

The third period was more of the same, as Hanover had another 5 v 3, which included a near miss by Stadheim on the doorstep after some nice puck movement.  With just over 11 minutes remaining in the game, Memorial finally accepted one of the gifts they had been offered all night, and scored a power play goal to tie the game at 2.

Some more sloppy play and tired legs followed, leading eventually to another Crusader power play at the midpoint of the third period.  This time the Hanover special teams were up to the task, and Goff's heroics were enough to put the Marauders ahead to stay.

Ratliff was solid in goal all night, continuing the early season trend of excellent goaltending.  He stopped 14 of the 16 shots he faced, including several saves of the larcenous variety.

Next up for the Marauders is a rematch with Bedford on their home ice, Saturday Jan 2 with the puck scheduled to drop at 1:00 PM.  Bedford won the tourney championship over Concord 3-0, and has yet to surrender a goal this season.