SALEM, Mass. – Six different players scored and Plymouth State University used three straight third period goals to skate past Salem State University, 6-3, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey game at Rockett Arena on Thursday night.
The Panthers got off to a fast start, opening the game with three goals in the first 17 minutes of the opening frame. Salem State scored late in the opening frame and added the sole score of the middle stanza to pull to within one, 3-2, but PSU erupted for three straight scores in the third to wrap up the win.
Plymouth State runs its record to 11-4-2 (8-1-2 MASCAC) to remain in a tie atop the league standings. Salem State falls to 5-9-0 and 3-7-0 in league play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 6, Salem State 3
- Plymouth State (11-4-2, 8-1-2 MASCAC)
- Salem State (5-9-0, 3-7-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State got the scoring started 6:37 into the opening period when sophomore Matt Tartaglio (Houston, Texas) snagged a bouncing puck in the slot and snuck it inside the far post for the early lead.
- The Panthers struck again just 36 seconds later as junior Myles Abbate (Norwell, Mass.) snapped a wrist shot from just outside the right faceoff circle just over the glove of the screened Vikings' goaltender.
- PSU made it 3-0 late in the period when junior Ted Austin (Sylvania, Ohio) made a long pass through the neutral zone to graduate student Peter Laviolette (Longboat Key, Fla.), who split a pair of defenders before beating the goalie with 3:16 left in the frame.
- The Vikings got one back with just under two minutes left to make it a 3-1 game heading to the first intermission.
- Salem State scored the lone goal of the middle stanza to cut the PSU lead to 3-2 heading into the final period.
- Senior Ben Chipman (North Vancouver, British Columbia) gave the Panthers some breathing room 7:16 into the third when he streaked down the middle after receiving a cross-ice pass from Laviolette and the defenseman whipped a shot to the top right corner to restore the two-goal advantage.
- The Panthers extended the lead just under five minutes later with a short-handed tally. Junior Brendahn Brawley (Morton, Pa.) made a kick save and the rebound came out to Laviolette, who played a pass off the nearside boards to senior Grant DeWitt (Bowling Green, Ohio). DeWitt skated in alone and went to the backhand to sneak the puck past the goalie for a 5-2 advantage.
- Junior Jovan Zimmerman (Boulder, Colo.) capped the scoring with 1:03 left to play when he took a pass in the high slot from graduate student JR Barone (West Chester, Pa.) and blasted a shot to the back of the net.
By the Numbers:
- PSU blasted 42 shots to the Vikings' 25.
- Brawley finished the night with 23 saves for the Panthers.
- The Panthers were 0-for-5 on the power play but did tally a short-handed goal while holding the Vikings scoreless in two power play chances.
- PSU is 11-2-3 over the last 16 meetings with Salem State.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Fitchburg State University on Tuesday (Feb. 1) in a showdown between the top two teams in the MASCAC. Puck drop is slated for 4:00 p.m.
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