The Bulldogs blew a third-period late but scrambled back to earn a point Wednesday night and remain atop the South Shore League.
KINGSTON – There were multiple plot twists and momentum changes Wednesday night as two of the South Shore League’s top boys hockey programs met in what turned out to be one of the winter’s most exciting games.
In the last couple of developments that really told the tale, Norwell rallied from a sludgy third period – when it seemed for the first 10 minutes like the bigger and more experienced Rockland squad was going to prevail – to score twice late and take a 4-3 lead.
But the Cinderella slipper wasn’t firmly on for the Clippers, and with the Bulldog net empty for the extra attacker over the final two minutes, Matt O’Brien uncorked a close-range shot that rang off the goalpost in the final seconds. As a bevy of players in the crease scrambled for the rebound, Rockland’s Mike Flaherty got to it first and poked it home for the equalizer with just 15 seconds left on the clock.
The 4-4 tie kept Rockland (7-1-2, 4-0-1) atop the SSL by a point over Norwell (4-2-2, 3-0-2).
If it was an inspiring comeback for the Bulldogs, it also came after a rather stunning late breakdown just when they had seemed to be taking control. And if it was a terrific letdown for the Clippers, it had only come after a game when they had given their heavily favored foes a battle all night.
In other words, both sides found some satisfaction in the draw, even if they weren’t overly thrilled.
“I thought we really had them in the beginning of that third period,” said Rockland coach Michael Flaherty, whose team had taken a 3-2 edge on Mike Flaherty’s first goal of the night at 1:16 of the third frame.
“Right up until the 11th minute, we were starting to dominate. But then, we made a mistake in front of our net, and then right after that another breakdown and we’re behind. We didn’t play big and fast tonight. We made numerous mistakes, so it’s good to get the tie, finally, but we have work to do.”
“It kind of stuns you, how the tie happened,” Norwell coach Jim Casagrande said, “but I am very proud of how well we played. Rockland has a ton of talent; they’re bigger than us and very good with the puck. We have an inexperienced team, by comparison, but this is as scrappy a group as I’ve ever seen. We just keep chipping away – that’s our hallmark. Against Rockland, the most talented team in the league, we have to take this as a positive. This is a really big point for us to get tonight.”
Rockland pinned the Clippers in their own end for much of the first five minutes of the game, peppering Norwell senior goaltender Andrew Corbett with shots. But just when it seemed like a mismatch, the Clippers used some slick passing to mount a threat, and made it pay off when their quick breakout led to junior Sam Williams scoring, off a nice feed from freshman Sam Fettucia, just 6:07 into the game.
That seemed to ignite Rockland’s offense even more, and 21 seconds later Bulldog junior Brian Goode unleashed a chest-high laser from the high slot that clanged off the iron and in, for a 1-1 deadlock.
That’s how the first period ended, despite a 10-6 Rockland edge in shots on net.
The teams traded goals again in the second for a 2-2 tie.
Norwell junior Eddie Fettuccia and Williams glided in on a 2-on-1 break, and Williams made the smart, left-to-right dish that allowed the older Fettucia to roof it for a 2-1 Clippers lead at 3:54.
Not two minutes later the same duo re-enacted that same play, but this time, Rockland goalie Harry O’Brien made a glittering glove save to hold the fort. Once again the Bulldogs didn’t wait long to respond, as junior defenseman Danny McHugh fired a long shot through a crowd for a score at 5:12.
Norwell survived a late penalty, and the second period ended 2-2.
In the third, Mike Flaherty put Rockland ahead, 3-2, just 76 seconds in on a pass that deflected in off a Norwell skate.
The Clippers responded as junior Harrison Reed scored the tying goal with 4:44 to go and then sent sophomore Matthew Ward in on a clean breakaway for a 4-3 lead with just 2:23 left.