Shen tops Saratoga in knockdown-drag out affair Tuesday, 3-2
CLIFTON PARK, NY » When Saratoga Springs and Shenendehowa meet on a sheet of ice, there is no love lost between the two high school hockey teams.
That sentiment still holds true despite not facing each other since February 26, 2020 and playing in front of an empty house due to COVID-19 protocol.
“Our kids were able to settle down and focus on the game more,” said Shen Head Coach Juan de la Rocha on playing the rivalry game without fans. “There was less distractions and more focus on hockey.”
The lack of fans did not mean there would be a lack of intensity Tuesday night at the Capital Ice Arena. The Blue Streaks and Plainsmen finished hits, fought for loose pucks, and clawed for any advantage they could get over the other. In the end, Shen finished the Saratoga team off 3-2 and remained undefeated in the shortened coronavirus season.
Shen came off the bench hard to start things with a strong forecheck, something that has become a signature for Shen hockey teams.
“That’s one of our hallmarks we like to come into every game with,” said de la Rocha. “It helps set the tone. They did the same to us. It makes for a fun hockey game to be a part of.”
Saratoga took the lead first at 10:59 in the first period thanks to a shot by Ty Bolster from the point. Bolster’s shot was low and hard and just beat Shen goalie Lucas Lasher under his glove early.
A Saratoga mistake leading to a too many men call led to Shen’s rebuttal at 2:31 in the first when Justin Miazga picked up a loose rebound off of Saratoga goalie Jesse Bradley.
Miazga’s goal proved to be the best method to beat a strong Bradley. The Plainsmen continued to shoot low and hard in search of rebounds. Their efforts were rewarded at 9:36 in the second period when Justin Mayo was the one to tuck a rebound in the back of the net to give Shen the 2-1 lead.
“We have our looks that we go for and it was something we practiced a lot of,” said de la Rocha on the rebound hunting. “It’s great to see it pay off and give our kids the confidence that what they are doing is going to lead them to good things.”
De la Rocha insisted though that his team struggled at times to generate those offensive chances.
“We have to find a way to get more pucks on net,” said de la Rocha. “We still aren’t putting it on the net enough, but I do like that when we are putting it on net we are getting guys to the net.”
Saratoga responded at 8:13 when Ryan Dolan roofed a puck from the slot over Lasher. Dolan’s chance was in large part to Blue Streak Captain Will Detora forechecking and forcing a turnover at the top of the circle before throwing the puck toward Dolan in the slot.
The final “real” goal of the game came with 27 seconds remaining in the second period when Ryan Saelens took a shot from the right circle that stayed hard a long the ice and just beat Bradley below he could kick his pad out.
“I think our big game plan was to put pressure on their goalie and make him make saves,” said Saelens. “It feels great.”
Prior to Saelens goal, both Shen and Saratoga had a goal called back. Shen’s on a breakaway at 6:25 in the second and Saratoga’s on a masterful penalty kill just moments before Saelens netted the game winner.
“Their penalty kill was good, it put a lot of pressure on us,” said Saelens. “I found time and got the shot off.”
The third period had no goals, but not for a lack of trying. Both Saratoga’s Bradley and Shen’s Lasher along with their respective defenses withstood a bevy of opportunities that culminated in Saratoga having two powerplay chances late in the period. Diving plays by Shen’s Joe Celtruda and Nolan Sullivan were key in fighting off the Blue Streak chances.
“That is huge,” said de la Rocha on the effect a blocked shot or diving play can have on a penalty kills momentum. “There’s a lot of things that go into it. They go from having possession to usually not, sometimes that blocked shot turns into a loose puck breakaway for your team. You go from being on your heels trying to defend, defend, defend, and then it gives your team an emotional lift when you see your team laying out like that.”
As Saratoga continued to push with the man advantage for the last two and a half minutes, it felt inevitable that the Blue Streaks would tie the game. Alas, Shen stood strong and did not crack in their penalty kill, handing Saratoga there first loss of the season to become 2-1. Shen remains undefeated 3-0.
The two teams will not have to wait long to see each other again. Saratoga hosts Shen Wednesday night at their home barn.
“That’s what our season is set up for, it’s like a college model. College teams play the same time Friday then Saturday and we are much the same. We have a lot of Tuesday-Wednesdays back to back and a lot Friday-Saturdays back to back. It is what it is,” said de la Rocha on the difficulty of seeing the same team twice in as many days. “Once our heads hit the pillow today is done with. Tomorrow is a brand new game. You have a whole new challenge ahead of you.”
“I think they are going to come out hard,” said Saelans. “It’s in Saratoga. It’ll be a bigger ice. We have got to bring it and put more pressure on them. We have got to do what we did today.”