Salem boys hockey comes back to knock off Londonderry (video)

SALEM – The power play unit didn’t win Wednesday’s game for the Salem High School boys hockey team.

It did put the Blue Devils in the right frame of mind.

With Londonderry taking three penalties in the row in the second period, Salem played with a man advantage for almost six minutes, getting one power play goal to tie the game and swing momentum.

That momentum carried over into the third period, as Nolan LaBossiere scored the game-winner off a miscue by the Lancers’ defense at 1:43 of the period, giving Salem a 3-2 win at the ICEnter.

Aidan Chane got an assist on the goal, as he dumped the puck in off the boards, and it bounced back toward the center of the ice to LaBossiere.

“We work on that a little bit, but it doesn’t usually look like that,” Salem coach Mark McGinn said. “Flying in the zone and getting behind their defense, it’s good to see it come through because now they’ll practice it a little harder because they’ll believe its going to work. It was a good win.”

Ryan Allard and Austin Salvetti also scored for the Blue Devils (3-4), getting goals in the first and second period, respectively. Ryan Pappalardo, Chris Wilson and Anthony Survilas each had an assist and Brady Roux made 19 saves.

Londonderry (2-4-1) got first-period goals from Cole Ferguson and Zachary Rheault to lead 2-1 after one, and Cam Donovan made 30 saves in goal.

But the three penalties in the second period forced the Lancers to play in their own end for a long stretch, and that mentality carried over into the third.

“You start chasing the game,” Londonderry coach Peter Bedford said. “You can’t chase the game. You’re able to think offensive-minded and start putting pressure on them, and then you start drawing penalties.

“You’re not forechecking aggressively, you’re sitting back, and then starts to creep into your game. You can’t get penalty after penalty after penalty and that’s what happened. We’re trying to play three lines, but we can’t play three lines and kill penalties.”

The Lancers were able to kill off a hooking call on Mathew Naso, but Noah Malcolm was called for a trip 21 seconds later.

Salem took advantage, as Salvetti backhanded a loose puck between the legs of Donovan to tie the game 2-2 with 6:10 left in the period.

Londonderry’s Joey Stowell was called for a hold 1:39 later, but the Lancers were again able to kill it off.

LaBossiere’s goal helped Salem keep the momentum to start the third, and the Blue Devils never really let up, keeping the pressure on Londonderry’s defense.

“It’s always a confidence booster, but if we’re one goal up, it doesn’t mean we’re winning the game,” Wilson said. “We’ve got to fight until that final buzzer.”

With the Lancers trying to make a push, Rheault was called for roughing with 4:13 to go. Salem couldn’t take advantage, but it was enough for the Blue Devils to hold on for the win.

“We had to stay on it,” McGinn said. “We didn’t pull off until the last minute-and-a-half. We had to stay on it to keep momentum and keep a little more space out there. Any time between these two teams, you can get that extra edge, it’s huge.”