LEWISTON — The penalty box was a busy place Wednesday night when Lewiston and Scarborough met on the Androscoggin Bank Colisee ice for a rematch of last year’s Class A boys’ hockey state championship. The teams combined for 14 penalties, but where it mattered, the Blue Devils came out on top, skating away with a 4-2 victory.
“It ruins a good game when you have as many penalties as that,” Scarborough coach Norm Gagne said.
The Blue Devils (2-0) were able to capitalize better on special teams, scoring 5-on-3, 5-on-4 and shorthanded goals in a span of three shots on goal in the final five minutes of the second period.
The game was more about skill than strength in the early minutes, with both teams moving across the ice like their skates were on fire. The “visiting” Red Storm (0-2-1), who now call the Colisee home, as well, jumped on the scoreboard first, with Anthony Burnham taking advantage of a Blue Devils giveaway in their own zone to make it 1-0 just 3:11 into the game.
Lewiston responded only 42 seconds later, when Joe Bisson put home a Brad McLellan rebound at the right post.
As the first period wore on, play began to get chippy. The first penalty of the game was a five-minute major against Lewiston late in the first period. The second period saw six penalties called.
“The second period was a wash because if we weren’t on a power play, they were, and vice-versa. I guess that might have played to our advantage,” Lewiston coach Jamie Belleau said. “I think the second period was the difference because we were able to capitalize in that period.”
Brett Rockey scored on the power play for Scarborough to give the Red Storm a 2-1 lead four minutes into the period, but the Blue Devils converted on their own special teams chances late in the frame. Sam Frechette scored a bar-down goal on the two-man advantage, then Dustin Larochelle gave Lewiston the lead with a 5-on-4 goal 18 seconds later.
Brad McLellan made it a two-goal advantage with 1:27 left in the period with a shorthanded goal. His clear attempt from inside his own zone deflected off Scarborough goalie Brandon Wasser and trickled in.
Seven more penalties were called in the third period, but no more goals went in.
“It ruins a good game when you have as many penalties as that,” said Gagne, whose team was missing top-line seniors Cam Smith and Justin Perry.
“I thought Scarborough played a really good game,” Belleau said. “I thought they blocked a lot of shots. I thought that they got under our skin a little bit.”
Wasser made 24 saves for Scarborough, while Jacob Strout stopped 13 of 15 shots for Lewiston.
The teams meet again at the Colisee on January 25 in Scarborough’s home game.
wkramlich@sunjournal.com
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