The Upper Montgomery Lightning jumped out to a large, early 3-0 lead Friday evening versus the DC Stars. Unable to hold onto the lead, the Lightning settled for an unsatisfying 3-3 tie at Rockville Ice Arena. The team is now 0-3-1 on the season and still in search of its first victory. This game was critical to the playoff hopes for the team and now the Lightning will be in must win mode in their upcoming games versus the Wilson Stars and the Northwest Jaguars.
The coaching staff had the team ready to play. The Lightning came out fast with a heavy forecheck against the Stars. Just 37 seconds into the game the Lightning jumped out on top. Chris Hassett intercepted a bad clearing pass by the Stars defense, gaining possession just before the puck crossed back into the neutral zone. He skated wide, deep into the offensive zone and fed a pass in front to Ryan Jacobson. Jacobson caught the pass on his forehand, stickhandled nicely to his back hand, faked, and easily beat Stars goalie Thomas O’Toole for his second goal of the season. One shift, one goal, and the Lightning were off to the start they needed.
Quickly thereafter the teams traded power play opportunities. Lightning defender George Benedick visited the penalty box twice over the remainder of the period for roughing. Stars forward Thomas Cooperman would also visit the sin bin twice. The Lightning controlled the puck in the offensive zone on their power plays. Many of their shots went wide of the net or were shot over the net. On the penalty kill the Lightning stuffed the Stars not giving up any good looks or high quality scoring chances. At the end of the first period the Lightning had given up only four shots on goal and had kept Stars high scoring center Malcolm Baar in check.
The start of the second period was a carbon copy of the first. On the initial shift of the period, a heavy backcheck by Ryan Jacobson caused a turnover along the boards in the Stars defensive zone. Jacobson controlled the puck, curled into the high slot area and fired a quick wrist shot five hole on O’Toole for his second goal of the evening. An unassisted tally at 16 seconds of the period gave the Lightning momentum. A minute and a half later, the score would grow once again to 3-0. Off of a face off in the defensive zone, Bradley Cupples intercepted a Stars pass and skated through the neutral zone down the left wing and into the Stars defensive zone. He slid a pass into the slot for Olivia Robbins. Her quick snap shot beat O’Toole for her first goal of the season and put the Lightning ahead by three.
Then, it seemed as if the Lightning began to relax and play free. They peppered O’Toole with 16 shots in the second period, but they were unable to grow the lead. At the 9:40 mark of the second period, the Stars would get one goal back. Stars highly skilled center Malcolm Baar picked up the puck in the defensive zone along the boards. He sped down the left wing through all three zones and cut to the middle of the ice. He maneuvered past James Botti with a forehand to backhand deke and went in alone on Lightning goalie Will Mellen. One more fake to the backhand and Baar slid the puck into the net.
The Lighting would enter the third period with a 3-1 lead. At the 9:14 mark of the period the score would tighten. Baar came in alone down the left wing. He pulled up at the top of the left faceoff circle and fired a slap shot to Mellen’s glove side. Mellen got a large chunk of the shot, but it powered through his catching glove and behind him into the net. The score was 3-2 on what looked like an innocent play.
For the next seven minutes the Lightning clamped down and did a good job of keeping the Stars out of the high danger areas in the offensive zone. The Stars kept pushing and eventually found the equalizer. At the end of a long shift, a failed clearing attempt by the Lightning proved pivotal. Thomas Cooperman corralled a loose puck in the corner to the left of Mellen. He skated toward the front of the net and fired a shot far side past Mellen. With 2:21 left in the game, the Stars had fought all the way back for the tie and a point in the standings.
Game Notes:
- Ryan Jacobson had two goals for the Lightning.
- The Lightning picked up their first point of the season with the tie.
- The Stars have tied three of their first four games of the season.
- Shots on goal; Upper Montgomery 31, DC Stars 19
- Power Plays—Upper Montgomery 0-5, DC Stars 0-3.
- The Lightning are next in action on Tuesday, November 23rd at 5:30 pm facing the Wilson Stars at Wheaton Ice Rink.
Three Stars of the Game:
First Star—Malcolm Baar—DC Stars Center—2 Goals
Second Star—Ryan Jacobson—Upper Montgomery Forward–-2 Goals
Third Star—Olivia Robbins—Upper Montgomery Forward—1 Goal