Superlatives aplenty flowed from a packed house at Skate 3 in Tyngsboro in describing the Saturday matinee between the host Islanders and Jr. Bruins. Over 40 NHL and NCAA scouts watched the two giants go toe –to- toe in what one veteran observer said

February 2, 2013

Tyngsboro, MA

Superlatives aplenty flowed from a packed house at Skate 3 in Tyngsboro in describing the Saturday matinee between the host Islanders and Jr. Bruins.  Over 40 NHL and NCAA scouts watched the two giants go toe –to- toe in what one veteran observer said was “the best game I’ve seen in nearly 10 years”. 

Despite a high pace and multiple scoring chances both goaltenders, Isles' Colton Phinney and Jr. Bruins Sean Lawrence, threw up brick walls for the first period.  The visitors finally solved Phinney with just over 2 minutes remaining in the second period when BJB forward Paul Russell popped in a net scramble for a 1-0 lead.  That score nearly held up, as Lawrence made numerous big saves for the Bruins.  With the Islander pressure to tie the game increasing and near imminent the Jr. Bruins called a timeout with 6:58 left on the clock in the third period.  The Islander pressure did not wane, but a slash penalty to IHC forward Connor Anthoine with just less than five minutes left in the game seemingly gave the BJB’s what they needed to close out the game.

The IHC penalty kill answered the bell allowing the hosts a chance for an epic finish.  With the fans two-deep at the glass and seats full the Isles pulled Phinney for an extra attacker with 1:19 to go in the game.  Lawrence proceeded to stymie the IHC offense with 3 beautiful saves.  Coach Tremblay called for an Islander timeout with 57 seconds left on the clock.  He inserted wing Luke Kirwan at the left point position next to defenseman Derek Stahl.  After the faceoff to the right of Lawrence, the Islanders continued pressuring for the equalizer.  Finally, Kirwan took a pass from Stahl and pounded the puck through a sea of bodies and Lawrence to tie the score at 1-1 with just eighteen ticks left. 

After a scoreless overtime skating 4 players aside, the contest moved to a shootout.  The shootout itself went to an extra session requiring a fourth shooter to decide the contest.  Phinney made four difficult shootout saves to set up Ian McGilvrey’s heroics.  McGilvrey hopped the boards to take the fourth and final shootout attempt.  Scooping the puck at the center ice dot, McGilvrey skated toward Lawrence where the left shot forward from Omaha ended the game with a filthy top corner goal.  The win gives the Isles a two and one record over the Jr. Bruins in three games.  Fans and scouts will not have to wait long for a re-match as the rivals will faceoff in a Wednesday matinee in Marlboro.

Earning the win for the Islanders Phinney stopped 29 of 30 shots through overtime and stopped all 4 Bruin shootout attempts.  Lawrence stopped 36 of 37 through regulation in the loss.