Arlington works OT magic
Jones goal the difference in 3-2 thriller
Considering the groove Woburn goalie Logan Roderick was in entering the final minutes of the third period Saturday afternoon, Arlington boys hockey head coach John Messuri wasn’t high on his team’s comeback chances even only down by one goal.
But just like they have all year, the young Spy Ponders surprised him at O’Brien Rink.
Behind senior Evan Jones’ game-winning goal less than a minute into overtime, No. 7 Arlington (8-2-1) outlasted No. 20 Woburn, 3-2, in a wild finish to keep pace with Reading atop the Middlesex League Liberty race.
Underclassmen JP Messuri (freshman) and Nolan Russell (sophomore) each scored for the Spy Ponders about a minute apart to grab a late lead, only for Woburn to tie things back up in the final 30 seconds and force sudden-death action.
“The game could’ve went either way, (Woburn head coach Jim Duran’s) team is so well-coached,” coach Messuri said. “It was even the whole way and we made one more play at the end. I’m proud of them, they tie it up late and come back and score in overtime, not get down.”
Woburn got off to a fast start defensively, using signature speed and physicality in front to disrupt most of Arlington’s activity in the Tanners’ zone. The Spy Ponders cranked up the shot volume once Matt Mahoney tipped in a 1-0 Woburn lead early in the second, but Roderick (24 saves) stoned everything that got through.
It wasn’t until Arlington got its second power play of the game late in the third that it was able to finally get one past him, with JP Messuri firing a bullet off Roderick’s shoulder that ricocheted in with 4:33 left to tie things up. The Tanners stormed back with a couple quality bids on Ryan Martin (20 saves), but it was Jones’ heavy shot on the other end that Russell tipped in for the 2-1 lead just 1:09 later.
“Roderick is outstanding, comes from good hockey genes and he played outstanding,” John Messuri said. “Midway through the third I’m like, ‘We’re done, he’s going to stuff us.’ But we got up and made some plays.”
The longtime head coach wasn’t thrilled with his team’s two wide bids at an empty-net goal in the final minute of regulation once Woburn pulled Roderick, which iced the puck to keep it in Arlington’s zone. Martin picked up a pair of saves to maintain the lead, but the Spy Ponders still paid for it when Finn Murphy powered in a goal at the far post with 29.5 seconds left to force overtime.
Much of the momentum was still in Arlington’s favor, though, and the first shot in extra play was the game-winner. Brian Patterson skated in front of Jones at the left circle and dumped the puck to him, which the senior then deposited after making a move around a defender.
“We can’t ice the puck there, not up by one,” Messuri said. “But that’s a good win for us, we’ve been off (without a game) all week. Coming off a loss to Reading, to come to Woburn and win is a good win. … (Jones) made two good plays for us there, so that was huge. But we’ve got a long way to go now.”