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SWAMP RATS DROP A PAIR TO LONG ISLAND GAME 1: SLOW START HURTS BOSTON, 495ERS WIN 5-4
The 495ers drew first blood when Ed Chlanda (2g) took a Greg Thompson (2a) pass and fired one off Rats netminder Pete Pennecke's pad that made it's way into the net. Just :57 later Rowan Porter (1a) found Greg Panteleo (1g) wide open in the slot and before the crowd had settled into their seats, Long Island had opened up a 2-0 lead. The Swamp Rats would then get on the board on the next shift when the "Taunton Connection" of Derek Bissonnette (1g) and Tom Halpin (1a) combined with Rats defenseman Bryan Moore (1a) to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. The Swamp Rats would even things up at 2-2 when Glen Squillacioti (1g) tickled the twine after Thompson was whistled for cross checking. Registering assists on Squid's goal were Tony King (3a) and Co-Captain Michael Hunt (2a). The 495ers broke the tie with just over a minute remaining in the half as Thompson and Chlanda set up Jonathan Mosenson (1g) to give the visitors the lead going into the break. Shots on goal after 12 minutes of play were even at a dozen each. The 495ers made it a 4-2 game during the 1st minute of play in half #2 when Erik Molzahn finished a play started by Joe and Jim Tamburino to once again give the visitors a 2 goal cushion. After a number of delays and a gaggle of penalties to each team filled the middle portion of the half, Chlanda notched his 2nd of the game, this one unassisted, with 6:31 remaining in the game to put the 495ers up by the score of 5-2 and the good guys had a major mountain to climb if they were to get back into this one. Swamp Rats defenseman Michael Enright (1g) did his part to get his team back in the game as he broke into the slot and backhanded one past 495ers netminder Mike Perry. Notching assists on the play were King and Hunt. As time was running short, Grant brought the Rats to within a goal at 5-4 on a goal assisted by King but it would be too little, too late as just :27 remained in regulation. Boston was able to aply some pressure as the clock ran out but Long Island was able to hang on for the win. Final shots on goal were 23-19 in favor of the 495ers. THREE STARS OF THE GAME; #1 Long Island forward Ed Chlanda. Ed found the back of the net twice in this game, one of them the game winning goal. #2 Swamp Rats forward Tony King. TK assisted on 3 of his teams 4 goals and once again proved why he is always on the floor when the team needs some offense. #3 495ers defenseman Greg Thompson. Greg's talent was on display on this night in Holbrook, MA and he walked away with a pair of assists.
GAME 2: BROKEN STICK SPELLS DOOM FOR THE RATS, 4-3 LONG ISLAND (Holbrook, MA 1/2/08) After a tough 1 goal loss in the opener, the Swamp Rats were looking to salvage a split with the 495ers and they had a pretty good idea how to make it happen. With the exception of the final 7:43 of the game, the plan worked to perfection. Unfortunately for the good guys, the visitors were able to misx in some good play witha lot of luck at the end to squeek out the win.
The Swamp Rats started the 2nd half in the same fashion that they played the 1st half. Just :18 had elapsed and, while on the power play, Ryan Grant (1g) fired one past 495ers netminder Nick Gullo to make it a 3-0 game and things were looking good for Boston. Registering assists on Grant's goal were Michael Enright (1a) and Hunt. The game looked to be in the bag for the home team until the wheels started to fall off at the 7:43 mark when Doug Hoffman (1g, 2a) set up Tony Bianco (1g) and the Long Island comeback was on. Just :24 had elapsed when Ed Chlanda (2g) a 3-2 game with an unassisted goal. The next 5 minutes went by with both goaltenders thwarting any scoring opportunities until Hoffman knotted things up at 3-3 with just over 2 minutes remaining. The Tamburino brothers, Joe and Jim, combined for assists on the goal. It's at this point that things got a little crazy. With just about half a minute remaining and the Swamp Rats regrouping in their own end to make a last minute charge to end this game in regulation, Frank Morris, while being pressured by Hoffman, swerved one way and then another only to have the puck hit a stick on the floor that had been discarded earlier in the shift and bounce directly to Hoffman. Hoffman then sent the puck out in front to Rowan Porter (1a) who slid it across to Chlanda for the game winner. Boston, stunned by the turn of events, took the ensuing faceoff but was unable to tie it up in hopes of going into bonus hockey. The Rats outshot Long Island in this one 33-27. THREE STARS OF THE GAME; #1 495ers defenseman Doug Hoffman. Doug had quite an impact on the outcome of the game and was involved in 3 of his teams goals, scoring once and adding a pair of assists. #2 Swamp Rats Co-Captain Michael Hunt. Mike netted a pair and assisted on the Rat's other goal. #3 Long Island forward Ed Chlanda. Ed picked up 2 goals in this one, including the game winner with just :34 to play in regulation. |
(Holbrook, MA 1/2/08)
The Boston Swamp Rats hosted one of the PIHA's strongest teams on Sunday
afternoon December 9 in a rare matinee game. The Rats were less than 24
hours removed from a tough split with the Marple Gladiators while the
495ers split a pair the previous night at Sports World Center in Tewksbury
against the Mass Bombers. These games had a unique subplot as a number of
current Swamp Rats call Long Island home and have played with and/or
against a good amount of the current 495ers roster over the years.
The game started out
just great for the home team in this one as Glen Squillaciotti (2a) set up
Co-Captain Michael Hunt (2g, 1a) for an early goal to put the Rats up 1-0.
After both teams manufactured some additional scoring chances, Boston
would go up by a pair as Hunt and Squid hooked up again on a play started
by the Swamp Rats other Co-Captain Paul Rogers. After 12 minutes of play,
the boys in red would be the owners of a 2-0 lead as they played one of
their best halves of hockey this season. Shots on goal (and there were
plenty of them) were in favor of the Rats, 17-16.