Scituate skates past Lynnfield in tough Div. 3 clash
PEABODY >> A matchup between two of the top teams in Division 3 brought a playoff atmosphere to the McVann-O’Keefe Skating Rink.
In the end, No. 2 Scituate spoiled Senior Day festivities against No. 5 Lynnfield and came away with a 3-1 boys hockey victory in a state tournament tuneup Saturday afternoon.
“It was a very even game. We looked at it coming in as a team that we’re going to see again,” Sailors coach Brian Hurcombe said. “We’re going to see them in the tournament at some point.”
Scituate senior goaltender Thomas McMellen didn’t see a ton of action early in the game, but was sharp in the third period, making 11 of his 25 saves in the final frame to earn the win in net.
McMellen was the backbone of a Scituate penalty kill that was a perfect 4-4 on the afternoon, including three pressure-packed shorthanded situations in the third while the Sailors were clinging to a one-goal lead.
Scituate (14-3-2) also killed off a full two minutes of 5-on-3 time in the second to stay ahead of the pesky Pioneers (8-9).
“(McMellen) is just getting better and better,” Hurcombe said. “Having a guy playing like that, when you start playing these quality teams, you need that. He’s been fantastic.”
Scituate took the lead late in the first after Luke Ryan snapped home a wrist shot on a two-on-one break off a nice feed from James Sullivan (two assists), who seemed to be everywhere early in the game.
Johnny Donahue went top shelf on the short side corner on a shot below the right dot with just 29 seconds left in the second to put the Sailors up 2-0, and the visitors seemed to be cruising.
“Both of our top lines are really tough to stop right now,” Hurcombe said. “Donahue’s scored two huge goals in the last couple games. That line is coming on, and Sullivan’s line … it gives us the ability
to have a lot of threats out there.”
Lynnfield came out with a surge to open the third. Will Norton found his way in all alone on McMellen just over a minute into the period, and while his shot
was stopped, linemate Jarret Scoppettuolo was there to clean up the rebound to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Pioneers had three power play chances in the final 10 minutes of the game, but Scituate did a
good job clogging shooting lanes and McMellen was square to anything that made it through the traffic.
Donahue scored his second of the game with an empty net to seal the deal
with just over a minute left to play.
Sophomore Michael Marenghi stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced for the Pioneers and took the loss despite a strong effort in goal.