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Trinity Pioneers Boys Ice Hockey '18-'19

Salem falls a goal short to Trinity in semfinals

MANCHESTER, N.H. — The game was within Salem’s reach as the clock wound down.
 
Trailing by just a goal with 3:40 left in the game, the Blue Devils earned a power play, and began an attack on the Trinity goalie.
 
But despite a few shots that looked destined for the net, Salem could not find the equalizer when it needed it most, and fell a win short of its first trip to the state championship game since 2004-05 season.
 
The No. 9 Blue Devils could not convert on a few late chances, and fell to No. 5 Trinity 4-3 in the New Hampshire Division 1 semifinals at the JFK Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday night.
 
“We had our chances, but we just couldn’t bury the puck,” said Salem coach Mark McGinn. “We got some good shots. We were getting to the middle and getting clean shots, but the goalie was making saves. We just couldn’t put it into the net at the end.”
Trinity (14-5-1) advances to play No. 3 Bedford (16-3-1) in the Division 1 championship game on Saturday (6 p.m.) at the SNHU Arena in Manchester. The Bulldogs beat No. 2 Concord in overtime 2-1 in the other semifinal.
Salem closes out its season 11-12-1, 10-10-1 in Division 1. It was the Blue Devils’ second semifinal appearance in three seasons after having not made it since 2005-06.
“We came out a little flat,” said McGinn. “We could have come out stronger given the situation. But then we turned it on a little. At times we were taking it to them some. But their goalie played well.”
Salem took the lead just 2:44 into play, when Ryan Pappalardo went into a scrum in front of the net and powered the puck home. Assists went to Austin Salvetti and Anthony Survilas. 
But Trinity responded quickly with a pair of goals just 2:57 apart to take a 2-1 lead after a period. 
The Blue Devils tied it with 6:15 left in the second. Tri-captain Ryan Martin took a pass from Aiden Chane and fired a shot that hit the right post, bounced off the goalie’s left pad and found the back of the net. 
Then, some controversy struck with 0:20 left in the second. An attacking player ran into Salem goalie Brady Roux, sending him sprawling into the net. The play was not called dead, and the Pioneers scored to make it 3-2 with 0:20 left in the second.
“It was a goal,” said McGinn. “You have that big pile-up in front of the net, and things like that are frustrating.  But that was a clean goal.”
Trinity appeared the ice the win early in the third. First, the Pioneers scored just 2:57 into the period, Then, they earned a 5-on-3 power play and a chance to take full control.
But a few huge saves by Roux (27 saves), including an impressive glove save on a slap shot and going into a split to kick another shot away with his left foot, kept it a two-goal game.
With 8:21 left in the game Salem make it a one-goal game. Pappalardo fired a slap shot from the blue line that Salvetti —who was anchored in front of the net — redirected home to make it 4-3.
The Blue Devils had then had the golden opportunity with the power play with 3:44 left, but came up short thanks to some brilliant work by Trinity goalie Ryan Brewitt (33 saves).
“He played very well,” said McGinn. “I think he as seeing the puck a little too well, and he made some great saves. Brady also played very well at times. He made a few saves he probably shouldn’t have.”
Salem now hopes to build off this playoff run. The Blue Devils expect to return Roux in net and three of their top four goal-scorers — Pappalardo (team-high 16 goals), Salvetti (12 goals) and Ryan Allard (10 goals) — are sophomores.
“We hope so,” said McGinn. “It was an awesome run. I wish the regular season had been a little better. But it was a good run. The seniors are disappointed now. But it’s a great experience for the younger kids. If we get all the pieces back, and add a few more, I think we can have a strong team.”
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Boys Ice Hockey, 03/06/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars