MOTION DENIED
O’Hara’s Percival shuts out Judge to help Lions inch closer to top seed in PCL
HAVERFORD >> The previous couple of times Cardinal O’Hara and Father Judge got together, it took overtime and angst to produce a winner.
The only drama Monday in Cardinal O’Hara’s 3-0 ICSHL win over Judge at the Skatium, which all but clinched the top seed in the PCL division playoffs, was whether junior goalie Troy Percival would register the shutout. You know how that went.
The feat was impressive considering how the Lions (14-2-1) had to rally to force overtime against Judge earlier this month and put them away for a 4-3 decision in the extra session.
“Troy was really good tonight and hopefully it can kind of catapult him into the rest of the season, just kind of locking in and being ready to go,” O’Hara coach Ed Banes said. “We should play next Wednesday. It’s single-elimination for our league. And we’re looking at the Flyers Cup, too, to see if we can make some noise there. Our D has been pretty good all year. As a defensive corps we’re pretty deep back there. But Troy was the difference tonight.”
Technically the Lions need a win or a tie over Ryan this Wednesday to clinch the top seed in the PCL playoffs. With six inches of snow forecast, the game could be cancelled. If so, the Lions are the top seed over Judge (10-3-0-3) based on winning percentage.
The way the Lions took control in the first period, it’s hard to imagine them losing to less formidable Ryan.
John Paul Ahearn set the tone with two goals, and the Lions wore down their opponent with strong forechecking. Ahearn was lurking in the slot when Mike Anastasi sent the puck to him for the first goal 9:24 left in the first frame.
“He came around from behind the net, won a puck battle and I just turned around and backhanded it on net,” Ahearn said. “The second goal, Dan Barrett made a great outlet pass to Mike, he flew the zone, drew two guys to him, dished it to me and I just tapped it in. I think the first 10 minutes of forechecking, we laid it on them. I think it wore them down a little.”
Goalie Mark Allendorf and Judge weren’t through, though, and they took the battle to the Lions in the second period.
Percival made several solid saves, however, and Judge became frustrated. Despite outshooting their nemeses, the Crusaders had to settle for a scoreless frame.
“We really just cleared the front of the net, everything was to the outside and we blocked a lot of key shots, a lot of big shots,” Percival said. “It was a big game to clinch the top seed and everybody showed up to play tonight. And they played really well.”
Lions defensive coach Bob Lynch suggested that Percival, who has had multiple shutouts this season, was being modest.
“He was obviously our first star but it’s not the first time he’s done this,” Lynch said. “He’s pulled us out of a jam a few different times this season where he’s literally just stood on his head. And it’s allowed us to get through the top parts of games. The defense, guys were willing to sacrifice themselves to block shots. They played their hearts out.”
With the Lions shorthanded in the third period, Percival stopped Christopher Benedict’s screamer from the point, stayed attentive and batted away a shot from a player coming across the hashmarks.
That just about ended the contest although with 1:53 remaining, Zac Deemer buried a pass from Steve Graney for the final goal.
“Our main point is to just get the pucks deep and get all over their D as much as we can and wear them down,” Lions defenseman Matt Beck said. “We just kind of tightened up the defensive zone, just packed the house, blocked every shot we could and Troy stood on his head.”
Snowstorm or no snowstorm, the shutout of Judge likely will help the Lions cull a solid seed in the playoffs, and probably the Flyers Cup.
More importantly the Lions can take their defensive effort Monday, and the play of their goaltender, and run with it the rest of the way. Defense wins championships, or so they say.
“Father Judge did a good job in the second period,” Banes said. “They dominated. To go back to Troy, he was the difference. He had 10 or 11 saves in the second period. And if he doesn’t do that it’s a different game. It could be 2-2 going into the third.”