The Upper Montgomery Lightning return to action this Friday night against the Northwest Jaguars. Game time is 8:45 pm at Rockville Ice Arena. The team is eager to hit the ice for the first time in two weeks after last week’s bye week. Following the brutally difficult schedule to begin the season, playing each of the top three teams in the Montgomery Hockey Conference, the Lightning are eager to get into the win column. The game against Northwest should be exactly the opponent for Upper Montgomery to deliver its first win of the 2022 – 2023 season as the Jaguars are at the bottom of the conference standings by a wide margin.
In net, Landon Bernard will be looking for high school varsity win number two. He has played very well at times and has faced far too many high quality scoring opportunities early in the season. In net for Northwest will be Joseph Dean. Dean who is also Northwest’s junior varsity goalie plays behind a porous defense prone to mistakes and an overall lack of talent. His goals against average is bloated as Northwest averages giving up 10.5 goals per game. The Lightning will have to attack the net and put lots of rubber on goal. It might just be a greasy goal that kick starts the offense. Upper Montgomery will need to play to its talent level rather than down to Northwest’s ability. The longer that the Jaguars remain in the game, the more belief they will have that they might be able to pull off the upset and beat the Lightning.
On defense, the Lightning will dress all six of their regular defenders for just the second time this season. It has been difficult for the defense to gain continuity with all of the missing student athletes from game to game. Upper Montgomery has had to navigate illness and defenders missing games. Against Churchill three key defenders missed the game. Against Northwest, the defense should have no issues shutting down the Jaguars offensive attack so long as the defense makes good decisions at the blue line. Unnecessary, and ill timed pinches at the offensive blue line have created too many odd skater opportunities against.
The Jaguars have only two offensive threats in their lineup, Brady Graham (4GP, 7G, 4A), a do it all defender who has seven of the Jaguars twelve goals on the season, and Ethan Custodio. Custodio is young, a 9th grade AA external travel team student athlete with lots of upside (3GP, 4G). When Graham and Custodio are on the ice together they account for the entire Jaguars offensive output and are becoming a dangerous tandem.
The Lightning will be without top six forwards Olivia Robbins and Nathan Cassel against the Jaguars. However, it should not impact the Lightning’s offensive output. Returning this week is the team’s leading scorer, center Ryan Jacobson (3GP, 4G, 1A). Brandon Bernard and Josh Nadler return to action as well after long absences. Expect last season’s leading scorer, center Chris Hassett to control play when he is on the ice. Hassett is likely to see significant ice time with a variety of forwards. Bradley Cupples will center a line that is feisty and brings grit and intensity to the game. If the Lightning start off the game lazy or slowly, look for Cupples to agitate to get the team fired up.
If Upper Montgomery plays hard and as units, the Lightning’s top two lines should have their way against Northwest. It would be helpful if the third line and the depth forwards also contribute offensively. It would be a welcome addition so that the coaching staff is able to roll the lines and provide rest for the team’s forwards, which has not been the case yet this season as the team has played shorthanded in every game.
Look for Friday night to be the game that ignites the Lightning and propels the team toward a second consecutive playoff appearance. A victory, even this early in the season, will provide a confidence boost for the team after several good, close performances against the upper echelon teams in the Montgomery Hockey Conference.