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Red Raiders set back Spartans 2-1
Edge Stoneham with a strong third period
Medford- The Melrose Red Raiders, backed by two third period goals by
Junior Chris Powers defeated the Stoneham Spartans by a score of 2-1
at Flynn Rink. The victory for Melrose brought their Middlesex league
record to 5-10-2 for 12 points and Stoneham, who had hoped to clinch a
playoff spot in this game with a win, saw their record fall to a
7-6-4. Each team has three (3) games remaining.
The teams played two scoreless periods with sharp goaltending provided
by Sean Morris in the Melrose goal and Dan O’Quinn in for Stoneham.
There were some great chances for both squads. Stoneham’s Bobby
Holland point blank wrist shot was snared by Morris’s catching glove
in the second period. Sr Captain Mike Fimaini had some outstanding
chances to score and is usually “money” especially at home. He made a
dandy move on a breakaway in the second period cutting to his back
hand and faking O’Quinn but the puck rolled off his stick at the last
second. In the third period Fiminani broke in all alone through the
Stoneham defense but O’Quinn denied him on a “five hole” attempt. Both
teams played physical and only a few penalties were called but one
assessed to Stoneham at the tail end of period two set Melrose up at
the start of period three was costly.
The Red Raiders set up the umbrella formation and moved the puck
briskly in the first minute of period three. Multiple passes from
Darling down low to Fimiani on the left boards to Powers at the point
took place . As Stoneham began to collapse down low Powers skated the
puck through traffic in the slot and faked out O’Quinn who had come
out to challenge at the right post leaving an open net to shoot at. He
did not miss the 16th time this season and Melrose lead 1-0. Four
minutes later Powers struck again off the right wing circle threading
a puck between the pads of O’Quinn after taking a feed from Mike
Fimiani and Melrose was in charge and up by two goals. With 8:05
remaining Stoneham got on the board on the power play with Anthony
Colarusso drilling one from the right point that eluded a screened
Sean Morris to make it 2-1. The final half of the period was played
tightly as the Melrose defense played strong in front of Morris who
stood his ground and controlled his rebounds leading Melrose to their
fifth victory and fourth on home ice (4-2-1)
Melrose played the game without the services of Defensemen Chris Healy
who has been an iron man for the Red Raiders this season. He is listed
as day to day with an injured knee. Melrose plays second place
Winchester at home on Wednesday February 13th at 6:00PM. The Sachems
have only two losses (both to Reading ) but the Red Raiders played
them tightly in two periods earlier the season before wilting in the
third period and losing by a score of 5-2. Melrose is doing a nice job
in the second half of the season and have been a tougher team to play
against.
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