NASHUA – Defense is what Ed Viola expected, and defense is what the Souhegan High School boys hockey coach got.
And since Viola’s Sabers have put an extra emphasis on clamping down on play in their own zone, they’ve allowed one goal in each of the last three games, including Monday night’s 3-1 win over Hollis/Brookline at the Conway Arena.
“Exactly what I thought it would be, a hard-fought, defensive game and we just broke through on some of our chances,” Viola said. “I think that we’re both defensive teams, so a 0-0 score is not unusual. We said in the locker room between the second and third period, we’re both even and it comes down to whoever wants it more.”
The Sabers were the ones who got it, and it didn’t take them long once the third period started. Ben Rafferty broke the scoreless tie just eight seconds in to put Souhegan (7-4) up 1-0. Carson Burke added a goal and an assist and Quinn Carroll had two assists. Joe Stacy also scored while Erik Hayden made 34 saves in goal.
Griffin Brown scored the lone goal for H/B (4-5-1) and Jake Hanhl made 31 saves, including several early in the game that could have made this matchup a lot like when these teams meet last Wednesday.
In that game, the Sabers scored three times in the first period on the way to a 4-1 win. This time, Hanhl made a handful of big saves early and the Cavaliers defense was quick to turn away rebounds.
And when the defense couldn’t get to the rebounds, Hanhl made the save on the follow up. In the first period, Rafferty put a shot on goal that the H/B goalie turned away and then put himself into position to stop a shot by Carroll.
With the Sabers on the power play in the second period, Hanhl made it from one side of the crease to the other to make a pad save on Carroll.
The only problem for H/B was that Hayden was doing much of the same at the other end.
The Cavs controlled play throughout the second period, including a series of shots halfway through that Hayden was able to keep out of the net.
And then came the opening of the third period.
The puck bounced around off the face-off and eventually went to Burke, who carried it toward the blue line. Both H/B defenders went for Burke and the sophomore was able to get a pass off to Rafferty, who was streaking down the wing.
Rafferty went in alone on Hanhl and beat the Cavs’ goalie for a 1-0 lead with 14:52 left in the game.
“It was a nice goal,” Viola said. “Something else we talked about, we had too many scoring opportunities and the goals will come. Keep doing what we’re doing and we’ll eventually get the goals, which we did.”
H/B had a power play opportunity in the third, but couldn’t muster much on that man-advantage. After going 0-for-5 on the power play last Wednesday, the Cavs were empty on three Souhegan penalties.
The Sabers added to the lead with 5:18 remaining. Stacy shot the puck in off the post, but the Cavs were unable to clear it from the zone and it wound up back on Stacy’s stick before finding the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Brown scored off a face-off in Souhegan’s end a minute later to pull the Cavs back within one goal, but Burke added an insurance goal on a strange play.
A slap shot from the blue line hit Carroll in the stomach as he was skating through the zone. The Souhegan sophomore doubled over for a moment before realizing the puck was in his jersey.
Once he let it drop, Carroll turned and shot it on net before slowly skating to the bench. Hanhl made the save, but the rebound went right to Burke, who buried a shot past the goalie.
As much as Viola liked the offensive output in the third, it was the defensive effort turned in by the Sabers that was the highlight.
“One goal each game in the last three games, I can’t ask for much more than that,” he said. “We’re picking up the guys out front and (the defensive plan) is working. It looks like all the players are buying into it and play that way. I think they’re seeing the benefits of it.
“If we do that (play defense), our goals will come. If we can do that, than we can beat anyone in this league.”
The Sabers will go for their fourth straight win on Saturday at Con-Val. The Cavs will host John Stark on Wednesday.
H/B coach Tim Clark was unavailable for comment after the game.