> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Souhegan boys hockey takes advantage of power play to beat Kennett - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/souhegan-boys-hockey-takes-advantage-of-power-play-to-beat-kennett/ - Published: 2013-01-10T20:43:15.000Z - Updated: 2013-01-10T20:43:15.000Z - Description: NASHUA - The Souhegan High School boys hockey team had lost two games in a row, and coach Dan Belliveau knew exactly why. - Author: Joe Marchilena - Tags: Division III-IV, Winter Sports, boys hockey, Division III, Kennett, Souhegan, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 ![Souhegan's Vincent Silvestri tries to help goalie Ryan Peterson cover up the puck during Wednesday's game. For more photos, go to the Photo Album.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jmkensouhock010913-s35-1.jpg) Souhegan's Vincent Silvestri tries to help goalie Ryan Peterson cover up the puck during Wednesday's game. For more photos, go to the Photo Album. NASHUA - The Souhegan High School boys hockey team had lost two games in a row, and coach Dan Belliveau knew exactly why. In one-goal loses to Berlin and John Stark/Hokpinton, the Sabers took too many penalties, and it had cost them. On Wednesday against Kennett, Souhegan cut down on the infractions and the results were different. The Sabers scored two power-play goals and killed off two penalties at the end of the game to beat the Golden Eagles 3-1 at Conway Arena. Brendan Dix scored on the power play just 24 seconds into the third period to give Souhegan (5-2 in Division III) a lead it wouldn't surrender, despite taking back-to-back penalties in the game's final four minutes. "They showed up ready to play this game," Belliveau said of his team. "After working hard in practice, they were ready to play and they hustled. Everybody did what they were expected to do. We had to kill off some penalties when it mattered most and we were able to do that. We put the pucks in the net when we needed to." ![Souhegan's Joe Nutting celebrates after scoring a goal.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jmkensouhock010913-s15-1.jpg) Souhegan's Joe Nutting celebrates after scoring a goal. Joe Nutting also had a power play goal for the Sabers, scoring late in the first period to tie the game, and Mike Hayden had an empty-net goal and two assists. Ryan Peterson made 18 saves, stopping every shot he faced after giving up a goal to Kennett's Connor Todd just 1:59 into the game. "He made several key saves that kept us within reach, so that when we did have that opportunity to go ahead, we were able to do so," Belliveau said. "Holding that team to one goal is a really good story for him." For Kennett (4-3), the game was lost on special teams. "It starts with a stupid penalty," Kennett coach Mike Lane said of the penalty that led to the game-winning goal. "We need to be more disciplined. You can't give teams like that an opportunity like on the power play. They're too talented." The Eagles had the chance to tie the game late, but Peterson came up with a couple of big saves, and the Sabers' penalty kill did what Belliveau asked of it. "They like to use an offensive triangle, and they like to find the backdoor, a winger or defenseman who slides down on the weak side when no one is really looking and then they hit him with a pass," he said. "We defended that well. Our defensemen, we told them to make sure that no one gets between them and the post. If they're with the puck in behind the net or the corners, leave them there. They can't score from there." ![Kennett's Connor Todd tries to move through the Souhegan defense.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jmkensouhock010913-k2-3.jpg) Kennett's Connor Todd tries to move through the Souhegan defense. Kennett's Todd and James Gallo had a great chance to score on a two-on-one early in the second, but Peterson made the initial save and the defense got back to clear the puck. "It's hard when you don't see a hockey team a lot, but I thought we were pretty even for the most part five-on-five," Lane said. "Power plays are part of the game. They took advantage of them." The Sabers won the face-off to open the third and quickly set up their offense. Dix ended up with the puck near the blue line, and his shot made it through a lot of traffic to beat goalie Josh Kondrat (18 saves), who never saw the puck. "We knew that would be a key goal to get," Belliveau said. "We made sure we had the right personnel in place and there was some nice passing down in by Mike Hayden and Matt Wilson and Joe Nutting. "Brendan Dix ended up with a nice shot and the puck found its way to the net because we had some bodies in front. Alex Maresco was in front and it worked out well. That was part of our plan. Alex has some size, so we wanted to make sure he was in front providing some screens and blocking the goalie's vision." While the loss was frustrating for Kennett, the Eagles won't have to wait long for another chance at Souhegan. The Sabers travel to Kennett for a rematch on Jan. 23. "I always enjoy coming down and playing them," Lane said. "Dan is doing a great job with them and I look forward to playing them in a couple of weeks."