An excellent hockey game was played at the JAR on Wednesday, with both teams deserving of a “W,” but it was Wilmington’s stud center, senior Isaac Tavares, who ultimately carried them to an overtime 4-3 win with his game-winning goal in overtime number one with teams playing four aside
The Raiders welcomed back junior Luke Egan to the lineup after a one-game absence, and he played a huge role, and almost carried the Raiders to victory much the same way Tavares did for Wilmington. But first, Watertown/Wayland had to withstand a barrage of early hits from a physical Wilmington team. While mostly clean, the hits were surely meant to intimidate the Raiders — and they didn’t. And in a matter of minutes in the first period, Wilmington’s penalty box turned into Wilmington’s alternate bench, as three players were whistled for penalties in a three and half minute span. Unfortunately, the Raiders couldn’t capitalize. And when teams were finally both at even strength, Emrich O’Brien made some individual magic stickhandling through two Raiders players on the way to scoring thanks to a top-shelf wrister that Raider goalie Finnley MacDonald had no chance of stopping.
Twenty-two seconds before the end of the period Tavares scored his first of the game with a wicked wrister of his own, flying down the left wing and potting one to MacDonald’s glove side just inside the top corner of the goal posts to make it 2-0. As always, though, Watertown/Wayland didn’t allow the deficit to stop them from competing. The second line of Jake Fijux, Ryder Barenholtz and Logan Desrosiers was really good on this night, and they got the Raiders on the scoreboard just 2:58 into the period with some nifty passing off of some effective forechecking. Once in the Wilmington zone Fijux hit Derosiers alone in the slot, and Derosiers wristed it low glove-side to beat Wilmington goalie Cam Thompson to cut the lead to one. The Raiders continued to press, and were the better team through much of the first 10 minutes of the second period. But one little let down, which has plagued Watertown/Wayland all season, and the inability to clear a rebound allowed Wilmington’s Gray to make it 3-1 after two periods.
It took all of 43 seconds of the third period for the Raiders to make a statement — we are still in this game. Isaac Maillis did some effective dirty work in the corner, and Luke Egan made sure his effort was not for naught, picking up the puck and feeding Lukas Wynn in the slot who scored to make it 3-2. The next nine minutes and change found both teams skating up and down the ice, competing and hitting and looking to score the next goal. Another by Wilmington would most likely ice a win. The Raiders were looking for the equalizer, which is what they got when the tandem of Wynn and Egan struck again, thanks to Egan’s skating and stickhandling, which led to Wynn scoring the tying goal with just under 5 minutes left in regulation.
Not 30 seconds later, Watertown/Wayland’s Adam Capello was called for tripping, but the Raiders showed no signs of panic and killed the penalty, and sent the game to overtime tied at 3. In overtime, Watertown/Wayland was not able to control the puck for long, and found themselves on their heels a bit in the 4-on-4, five minute format. The main reason? Number 18, Isaac Tavares. He already had a goal and an assist, and with the puck, he was that good — as in, don’t take your eyes off him and don’t allow him space to skate and stickhandle. But with 1:19 left in overtime he did just that, coming down the left side, burying his shoulder and creating just enough room to score the game winner with two Raiders hanging on him.
It was a game, as I said, that both teams deserved to win. The two best players on the ice were the two best players — Egan and Tavares. Both supporting casts played well. MacDonald was the busier of the two goalies, and asked to make more difficult saves, and once again it’s fair to say that his play kept the Raiders in the game. The Raiders offense was better than it has been on this night, and applied more consistent pressure throughout. In the end though, Wilmington was just a smidge better when it had to be, and earned a hard-fought 4-3 overtime win. Fun game though. Competitive game though. A game and effort that Watertown/Wayland should be proud of, though.
1 2 3 OT – F
Wilmington 2 1 0 1 – 4
Watertown/Wayland 0 1 2 0 – 3
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Scoring Summary
1st Period
Watertown/Wayland 0 Wilmington 1… O’Brien @ 9:59
Watertown/Wayland 0 Wilmington 2… Tavares @ 14:38
2nd Period
Watertown/Wayland 1 Wilmington 2… Logan Desrosiers from Jake Fijux @ 2:58
Watertown/Wayland 1 Wilmington 3… Gray @ 11:04
3rd Period
Watertown/Wayland 2 Wilmington 3… Lukas Wynn from Luke Egan @ 0:43
Watertown/Wayland 3 Wilmington 3… Wynn from Egan @ 10:54
Overtime
Watertown/Wayland 3 Wilmington 4… Tavares @ 3:41
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Remaining Regular Season Games
Saturday February 7 @ Stoneham, 4 pm
Wednesday February 11 vs. Wakefield @ 7:45 pm
Saturday February 14 @ Melrose, 7:30 pm
Wednesday February 18 vs Dover-Sherborn @ 5:45
(Home games played at John A. Ryan Arena)