The Upper Montgomery Lightning won their first game of the season Tuesday evening easily beating Wilson. The game was not competitive right from puck drop as the Lightning’s first line of Ryan Jacobson, Chris Hassett, and Nathan Cassel dominated against the over-matched Stars in the 9-0 shutout victory. With the victory Upper Montgomery is likely to rise in the league rankings ahead of the release of the cross division games scheduled for the second half of the season.
The Lightning got off to a fast start pressuring the Stars right from the first shift of the game. A shot from the point by Andrew Gean deflected into the right corner where it was retrieved by Chris Hassett. Hassett centered the puck to Nathan Cassel who tried a between the legs shot that went over the net. Hassett again retrieved the puck this time in the left corner and he curled into the slot. His wrist shot to the top of the net, high glove side, beat Stars netminder Jack Kobil. Three minutes later the Lightning would up the lead to 2-0 on a goal by Cassel. Off the cycle in the left offensive corner, Hassett fed the point to James Botti. Botti returned the puck down the boards to Hassett who centered the puck to Cassel cutting down the slot. Cassel wasted no time and fired a wrist shot high blocker side past Kobil. Before the first period was over, the Lightning would increase the lead to 3-0. Off of a defensive zone faceoff, Bradley Cupples and Hunter Cameron would use teamwork to find the back of the net. Cupples advanced the puck into the neutral zone where it caromed off of a Stars defender and right back to him. A short, quick pass found Cameron cutting into the Stars defensive zone along the right wing. Cameron skated wide around the Stars defense. From the off wing he shot high blocker side into the far top corner of the net to provide the Lightning a comfortable lead. A dominant period for the Lighting saw them outshoot Wilson 20-0.
The second period saw more of the same. The Lightning controlled the pace of play and all of the action was in the Stars defensive zone. Shots on goal in the second period finished 18-1 Lightning. The Lightning’s first line took control of the period applying heavy pressure and backchecking hard to cause multiple turnovers in the neutral zone which led to quick transition rushes. Off of the only Stars shot of the period, James Botti rimmed the puck from the back of the Lightning net and up the left wing boards to Hassett. Hassett outskated the Stars down the ice and fed the puck in front to Jacobson who was driving the net. Jacobson outmuscled the Stars defender and swatted the puck into the net on his forehand. Three minutes later the score would jump to 5-0 on Josh Miller’s first varsity goal for the Lightning. Brandon Bernard backchecked to win the puck against the left wing boards in the Stars defensive zone. He gained control of the puck and skated around the net. As he reached the bottom of the right circle, he passed to James Botti at the point. Botti skated down into the top of the right faceoff circle and passed cross crease to Miller who was wide open at the far post. Miller settled the puck and shot low blocker side past Kobil. The final goal of the second period was fueled by more hard work by the top line. Hassett won the puck at center ice. He dished the puck wide to Jacobson along the left wing boards. Jacobson entered the zone and centered to Hassett. Hassett passed wide to Cassel coming down the right wing with a clear path to the net. As he was about to shoot, Cassel passed back to Hassett directly in front of the net for an easy tap in goal. Most of the remainder of the second period was spent with the Stars on the power play as the Lighting had no trouble killing off a double minor roughing penalty to Cupples.
The third period was a continuation of the first thirty minutes of action. Lightning pressure, shots on Kobil (42 saves), and three more goals. Off of an offensive zone faceoff, Hassett controlled the puck. He skated around the net and up the left wing boards. He cycled the puck back to Jacobson in the corner. Jacobson spun away from two defender and fed the point to George Benedick who fired a wrist shot on Kobil. The rebound bounced into the slot and Hassett controlled it, stepped one stride to the right to get around Kobil, and deposited a short forehand shot into the net. With 4:30 seconds left in the game, Gean would score to increase the lead to 8-0. After a zone entry, the Stars defense attempted to clear the puck under pressure from Cassel. The puck was kept in at the right point by Gean. He fired a quick shot toward the net which deflected off the Stars defense in front and past Kobil glove side for his first goal of the season. A minute later Hassett would finish off the scoring. Benedick took possession of the puck in the Lightning defensive zone. He skated up the left wing and into the offensive zone. He cut to the middle of the ice and lost the puck under defensive pressure. The puck slid right to Hassett who shot far side past Kobil’s blocker and into the net. The Stars were given a late power play with fifteen second left in the game after a roughing penalty to Josh Nadler, his second penalty of the period. Off a goal mouth scramble in front of Will Mellen, the Stars had three of their four shots on goal in the period as they attempted to avoid being shutout.
Game Notes:
- All three Lightning first line forwards all had multi-point games; Chris Hassett (4 goals, 2 assists), Nathan Cassel (1 goal, 2 assists), and Ryan Jacobson (1 goal, 2 assists).
- The Lightning picked up their first win of the season.
- Jack Kobil made 42 saves for the Stars.
- Will Mellen had his first shutout of the season, lowering his goals against average to 1.67.
- Josh Miller scored his first varsity goal for the Lightning in the second period.
- Shots on goal; Upper Montgomery 51, Wilson Stars 5. Shots on goal after two periods were 38-1.
- Upper Montgomery had zero power play opportunities.
- The Upper Montgomery penalty kill was a perfect 5-5.
- The game had a running clock from the 5:32 mark of the second period until the end of the game once the score reached 6-0.
- The Lightning are next in action on Friday, December 3rd at 8:15 pm at Cabin John Ice Rink for a non-conference game versus the West Virginia Vipers.
Three Stars of the Game:
First Star—Chris Hassett—Upper Montgomery Center—4 Goals, 2 Assists
Second Star—Nathan Cassel—Upper Montgomery Forward–-1 Goal, 2 Assists
Third Star—Ryan Jacobson—Upper Montgomery Forward—1 Goal, 2 Assists