November 29, 2012

The Islanders Zac Sanford and Dakota Ford combined with Valley’s Ryan Fitzgerald to bring in the scouts to the week’s marquee contest as the top rated NHL Draft eligible players in the EJHL   Sanford and Ford shined as the Isles skated to a convincing 4-2 victory on the road in Haverhill, MA.

The Isles were tested early by the Valley offense and their power play when Mike Doherty was sent to the box 25 seconds into the first shift of the game.  Colton Phinney was strong in the net and the penalty kill unit was wall-like.  The period continued to be fast-paced and almost frenetic. With both sides developing scoring opportunities and finishing checks.

Just after the mid-point of the first period Islander defenseman Tom Muratore settled a chip pass from Zac Sanford at the right circle and walked off the wall.  Muratore unleashed a rising wrist shot from the blue line that beat Brendan Leahy under the cross bar to start the scoring.

Valley evened the score with 3:35 to go in the first on the power play when they intercepted a clearing attempt and converted a quick 3 on 1 from the left side of Phinney.

Valley came out with even more jump to open the second period but fell behind two scores in the end.  Leading scorer Mike Doherty corralled a Derek Stahl clear to the neutral zone to set up the play.  Doherty and line-mate Conor MacPhee attacked on a two -on -two rush.  Doherty held the puck on the defense backing up and with MacPhee driving the net the Yale Bound forward beat Leahy for a 2-1 lead.  The goal came at 18:55 mark of the second stanza.  Five minutes later Luke Kirwan stretched off the left board in the offensive zone and positioned himself open in the slot.  Line-mates Sanford and Mike Jamieson battled for the puck among a bevy of players and found Kirwan who cradled the pass and ripped a five-hole shot through the Valley goalie for a 3-1 lead.  Valley pressured on 4 more power plays in the period but the Isles PK and Phinney held strong to take a 3-1 lead into the final period.

Valley cut the lead to 3-2 when Rogeri and Leonard beat the Islanders defense off the right wall and attacked on Phinney beating him between the legs at 11:55.

Chris Izmirlian finished the scoring and the Warriors with a breakaway goal at 8:12.  Muratore lofted a clear from the defensive zone to the neutral zone where Doherty chipped it to the middle of the offensive blue-line.  Izmirlian scooped it and went mano- a-mano on Leahy beating him with a backhand deke to seal the game.

Leahy finished with 29 saves for Valley and Phinney stopped 33 in earning the win for the Islanders.