PARTIE TROIS
Shen-Toga meet for a third time this season and this time, only one team’s season will continue
CLIFTON PARK, NY » Saturday night the Shenendehowa Hockey team had to do something they had never done before − participate in a Section II Sectional play-in game.
“We have never played in one, however, it wasn’t until just recently that the bottom six teams in the league had a play-in. It’s always been the bottom two, maybe the bottom four,” said Shen Head Coach Juan de la Roche. “We’ve definitely been the seventh seed before. It wasn’t until recently that the seventh seed actually had to play in the play-in games.”
Shen handled the 3-18 Capital District Jets to an 8-2 victory Saturday night and kept themselves alive for a shot at the Section II title. In the win, Shen received offense from four different goal scorers in the win. Ryan Saelens contributed a hat trick, Chris Lasher totaled four points with two goals and two assists, Cole Haldane scored two goals, and Tyler Sullivan added a goal.
“We are a team that has been focusing on putting together 45 complete minutes because we know as these games go on they are going to
get tougher and tougher,” said de la Roche. “We learned three or two weeks ago that we can’t play two periods against a team like Saratoga. We did okay today. We had a slower start in the game, even though we got a jump on them 3-1, it really wasn’t the intensity that I would like to see them play with. That got better as the game went on.”
Shen will need to play a complete game on Wednesday because they will have Saratoga for the third time this season. Shen and ‘Toga have played twice already this season, both times going to the Blue Streaks. Back on December 18 Shen fell to Saratoga 6-1. Just a few weeks ago on February 8, they were shut out 4-0.
“We know what we are getting into. The advantage that is on our side right now is that they beat us the first two times and it is hard to beat a team three times,” said de la Roche. “We have work to do, but there is no doubt that when this group puts the work in, they can stay with anybody.”
“Third time is a charm here,” said Haldane following the win over the Capital
District Jets. “We know what they are capable of. They come out strong, they are a big offensive team, they are a little weaker on the defensive side, so if we can get to their goalie and get shots on net and crash then we could have a big outcome.”
This Shen group is something that you don’t hear often when you talk about Shen teams − an underdog. The seventh seeded, 9-10-2 Plainsmen will need to travel to Saratoga to take on the second seeded Blue Streaks. With a young group and core of experienced senior leadership, de la Roche and the Plainsmen are hoping their youth doesn’t show coming down to postseason hockey.
“We’re the seventh seed, we don’t have the right to take anybody lightly. They know, they have something to prove,” said de la Roche. “We have got kids from all different walks. We have kids who have been here for four years, and we have a lot of kids who are here for the first time, so this is all new to them. We’re playing with four sophomores and one freshman defenseman, that’s pretty significant. They are figuring it out.”
“We are a huge underdog going into this, but then again, we are still Shen, teams aren’t going to take us lightly,” said Haldane. “They know what we are capable of and I think we need to stick to our game plan like we have been these last few games.”
Shen and Saratoga, on paper, have an interesting matchup. The Blue Streak offense is lead by Will Detora, Joe Amodia, and Mack Ogden. Shen has Tyler Sullivan, Cole Haldane, and Ryan Saelens.
“It feels big in the locker room after this game. The energy of playing ‘Toga and the ‘Toga-Shen rivalry is a big deal. It’s a good atmosphere,” said Sullivan on getting the chance to see Shen’s rival for a third time. “It’s a new day. Nothing matters now that it is the playoffs. Everything else is in the past. Those two games don’t matter, it’s just now and what we do until Wednesday. Wednesday night is going to make or break us.”
Defensively, both teams show cracks at times, which leads to opportunities on net, which is where the biggest disparity lies. For Saratoga, Brad Blake has been a cornerstone all year. Blake is second in Section II in wins and is within the top five in save percentage and goals against average. Blake is a prototypical goalie who moves well in his crease and is square to the puck. On his best night, Blake is very hard to beat.
For Shen, the goaltending choice isn’t as clear.
Both Kent Leighton and John Sassone have split time, virtually down the middle, this season. Leighton was Shen’s goalie last year when they team made made it to the Section II Final before losing to Bethlehem. Leighton and Sassone are similar in style and size and both capable of stealing a game for Shen if need be. Both are quick in the net (though Leighton may get a slight advantage) and play their angles well. Against the Capital District Jets, Leighton made some big stops on breakaways, while also kicking out some big rebounds at times.
De la Roche has simply gone with the hot hand week to week this year when it comes to goalie.
“We have to see what practice looks like Monday and Tuesday,” said de la Roche on who will get the nod for Wednesday.
Now that Shen is in playoff hockey, the slate is clean. Everyone’s record is 0-0 and they are looking to win or end their season. That could be advantageous for the seventh seeded Shen.
“It’s better for us because it is 0-0. They don’t have the momentum in the season, it’s the playoffs,” said Sullivan. “It’s like we never played them. It’s a whole new game, a whole new season almost.”