By Andy States
SMAC Content Manager
The game still scoreless in the later stages of the first period, Huntingtown’s Kirby Kinslow skated in on La Plata goalie Dylan Paquette and flicked a shot into the net for a 1-0 lead.
After dropping a 9-3 decision to Huntingtown earlier in the season, a game that ‘was actually a closer game than that sounds’ according to Paquette, the La Plata goalie was determined to shut down the Hurricanes after that first goal in the Wednesday-night rematch.
“I felt like the first one was my fault,” he said of Kinslow’s marker. “I know he broke through and was alone, but I was a little too deep.
“But it was only 1-0. We knew if we put some pressure on and got a few breaks we were confident we could get the goal back.”
The Warriors got the goal back, and then some. Paquette turned away 34 shots on the night, not allowing another Huntingtown goal until late in the third period, and La Plata scored three second-period goals to take command in a 4-2 win over Huntingtown at the Capital Clubhouse in Waldorf.
“Dylan played a great game,” La Plata captain Ross Eagles said. “Everybody skated hard. The freshmen really stepped up big. We got a couple goals early and that really helped put a little pressure on [Huntingtown].”
After the first period ended with Huntingtown (7-2) in front 1-0, La Plata (6-1) scored two quick goals in the second period’s first two minutes to surge in front. Gunnar Wilson-Schultz jammed in the first goal from just in front of the net 1 minute 15 seconds into the period, while Zack Krahling scored the go-ahead goal on a slap shot less than a minute later.
On the power-play later in the period, a face-off win by Ty Kyser sent the puck back to Kevin O’Leary, whose shot found its way into the net for a 3-1 lead at the end of two. Kyser added a goal in the third period to push the lead to 4-1. Mitchell Fink scored at the 10:27 mark to pull Huntingtown back to within 4-2, but the Hurricanes eventually suffered their second loss of the season.
“I key for us was the speed of play,” La Plata coach Mark Eagles said. “We played as fast a game as we’ve played all year. We got to the puck quick, made quick decisions with it, backchecked hard. Our pace of play was by far the key for our team.
“I think it caught the other team off guard. I don’t think they expected us to come out and play that fast. I don’t think they expected us to forecheck as hard as we did and get on them as quick as we did. And we got good goaltending play.”
That goaltending play was vital, as the Hurricanes outshot the Warriors 36-25 on the night.
“They moved the puck really well,” Paquette said of the Hurricanes. “A lot of them played together before. We just had to make sure we cut off the passes.”
The win sets La Plata up for a chance to secure the top spot in the regular-season standings of the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League’s Southern Division. La Plata and Northern are tied in the loss column with one, apiece, though La Plata defeated Northern head-to-head by a 6-4 count on Dec. 1. Northern (8-1) still has a game left with Huntingtown, scheduled for Feb. 6, while La Plata has a pair of games remaining with St. Mary’s Ryken on Monday and Wednesday of next week.
“We’re playing the same team. It’s kind of a good thing,” Paquette said. “We’re confident we can beat the team both times. We’re not going to take them lightly, though.”
La Plata 4, Huntingtown 2
H 1 0 1
L 0 3 1
First period
H – Kinslow (Billman), 9:54
Second period
L – Wilson-Schultz, 1:15
L – Krahling (Reece), 1:57
L – O’Leary (pp) (Kyser), 14:06
Third period
L – Kyser (Wilson-Shultz, Lawson), 5:34
H – M. Fink (K. Fink), 10:27
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