PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Suffolk men's hockey scored four answered third-period goals to comeback and take down Johnson & Wales, 8-6, Saturday night at Lynch Arena.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 8 | Johnson & Wales 6
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-9-0, 4-6-0 NEHC) | Johnson & Wales (3-12-2, 1-7-1 NEHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk was spotted two first-period goals within the first three minutes. Jack Kelly got the scoring going just 50 seconds into the action. The sophomore was sitting back post and received a slid past from Nick Abbene and pushed the puck home. Sean Montgomery followed suit at the 2:38 minute mark with help from Abbene as well. The rookie got the pass from Abbene and shot from the right faceoff circle to give the blue-and-gold a 2-0 edge.
Johnson & Wales took advantage of a major Rams' penalty and turned the tides in its favor with three goals with the extra skater.
LJ Fellows broke up the Wildcats scoring frenzy at the 7:17 minute mark of the second when the senior picked up a cross ice pass from classmate Mikhail Bryan and poked the puck over Joe Noonan's pad to level the playing field at 3-all.
The tied game was shortlived as JWU regained the lead 45 seconds later and added another goal with 6:03 left in the second stanza to send Suffolk into the second mission trailing by two, 5-3.
The Rams rallied out of the locker room and scored four consecutive goals in the first seven minutes of the third period to go back in front, 7-5.
At the 15:35 minute mark Mike Rodrigues sliced Suffolk's lead back to one, but the Rams secured the victory with an empty-net goal in the final 30 seconds from Bryan.
NETMINDER NOTES
- Michael Levineand Will Ribassplit goaltending responsibilities. Levine had eight saves, while Ribas earned the win with a 15-save performance.
- Noonan tallied 19 saves in the setback.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Ten different players recorded a point to help Suffolk pick up the victory with half having multi-point nights.
- Bryan led the way with four points split between goals (2) and helpers (2).
- Abbene and Fellows each had three points. The former's game off one goal and two set-ups, while the latter had a pair of strikes and one assist.
- Kelly and Miller Rubin both picked up two points. Kelly found the back of the net twice and Rubin set-up two scores.
- Montgomery (1g), Tommy Bishop (1a), Brian Brooks (1a), Joe Feeney (1a) and Connor Henry (1a) each contributed one point.
- The game was marred by a combined 33 penalties. The Rams went 2-for-7 with the extra attacker, while JWU went 3-for-7.
NOTEWORTHY
- The Rams swept the regular-season meetings with the Wildcats for the first-time in program history.
- Suffolk coupled three straight wins over Johnson & Wales for the first-time in the all-time series.
- The Rams extended their win streak to three, marking the most consecutive victories this season and since stringing four wins in a row together Nov. 16-26, 2017.
- Bryan matched a career-high in points (4) and goals (2).
- Bryan extended is point streak to three games in which he has notched seven points on three goals and four assists.
- Fellows posted a personal-best in points (3) and goals (2).
- Abbene, who scored his first collegiate goal, matched a career-high three points with three.
- Kelly matched a career-high two goals for the second straight game.
- Kelly pushed his point streak to five games. Over that stretch he has registered seven points on six goals and one assist.
- Miller matched a personal-high in points (2) and assists (2).
- Bishop and Brooks extended their point streak to three.
- Feeney matched career highs in points (1) and assists (1).
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk is back in the friendly confines of Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink next weekend when it entertains Southern Maine and New England College. The Huskies first stop by Friday, Jan. 18 with the Pilgrims paying the Rams a visit the following day. Both matches have a 7 p.m. puck drop and Suffolk will honor its members of the graduating class prior to Saturday's contest.