Powerplay Shines as Hockey Downs Johnson & Wales

ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Four powerplay goals by the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's ice hockey team (5-7) propelled the Leopards to a narrow 5-4 victory over the Johnson & Wales Wildcats (2-8-2) in non-conference action Saturday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• On the powerplay with just under five minutes to go in the first period, Wentworth broke the ice as freshman Dane Probe (Calgary, Alta.) sent a pass to freshman Desmond Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) at the point, who ripped the puck past junior Jacob Perrin (Chelmsford, Mass.) to give the Leopards a 1-0 edge.
• The Leopards doubled their lead again with the man advantage just 2:34 after Johnson's tally as sophomore Nolan Lowe (Toronto, Ont.) finished a slick pass from Johnson in the low slot, giving Wenworth a 2-0 lead.
• The Wildcats cut the deficit in half as a relentless play by senior Brent Rickett (Portland, Maine) led to a chip-in goal with 1:43 left in the opening frame, marking a 2-1 score.
• 40 seconds into the second, JWU knotted the score at two-all as sophomore Brendan Doyle (Stratham, N.H.) flashed a wrister past sophomore Jack McGovern (Ancaster, Ont.).
• The Black & Gold earned a 3-2 lead at the 10:55 mark of the second period as junior George Weiner (Wayne, N.J.) ripped a shot of his own from the point to the twine.
• After passing back-and-forth with Weiner at the point, graduate student Brendan Young (Lefroy, Ont.) jammed home Wentworth's third powerplay and fourth overall goal of the night on the goal line just 1:05 into the third period, raising the score to 4-2.
• Wentworth padded their lead with a goal at the 12:47 mark of the third period as senior Charlie Reid (Marshfield, Mass.) sent a wrist shot from the side boards to the roof of the net, extending the Leopards' lead to 5-2.
• JWU cut the deficit to two at 5-3 with a powerplay tally at the 14:51 mark as Rickett batted home a feed from freshman Chris Alexander (Los Angeles, Calif.).
• The hosts added to the score with the net empty and an extra attacker on as Alexander jammed home a loose puck on the edge of the crease with 2:51 to go in the game.
• Wentworth fended off the late surge by JWU as McGovern totaled 36 stops game-wide. Perrin posted 25 saves in the setback for the hosts, while the Leopards powerplay ended the night going 3-for-7.

SERIES NOTES:

• Wentworth owns the all-time series, 26-8-3, having won 13 of the last 16 meetings.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards are off until 2024 when they host Assumption on January 3.

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