LEWISTON — Puck luck is a real thing.
The jury is still out on lucky number seven, though.
Falmouth had two beneficial bounces go its way, resulting in the Yachtsmen’s No. 7, Theo Hembre, scoring goals. On the flip side, Lewiston’s No. 7, Joe Bisson, heard “clang” twice in one sequence. That’s the way Monday night’s Class A boys’ hockey matchup went, as Falmouth rallied for a 3-2 victory despite being badly out-shot at Androscoggin Bank Colisee.
Bisson hit the right post with one shot then the left with another, all in the same power play just over five minutes into the game. The Blue Devils (8-1) didn’t score on that power play, or any of the nine they had throughout the game.
“We knew coming in that we couldn’t just stand around,” Falmouth coach Deron Barton said. “They’re way too skilled, way too fast for that. So we had to mix it up, and we knew we were going to take some penalties, worked hard on penalty kill. And I think some of that paid off.”
The Yachtsmen (7-0-1) didn’t score on any of their seven power plays, either, in a game that featured 21 combined penalties.
“(Their) kids work hard,” Lewiston coach Jamie Belleau said. “They put their sticks in a lot of passing lanes, they take your hands away as quick as they can. Whatever leeway they get, they’ll take it. And it’s frustrating on your kids. We expect that, and we’ll have to be better.”
Special teams did end up favoring the Blue Devils. They opened the scoring 52 seconds into the second period, with Jeromey Rancourt scoring off an assist from Sam Story during a 4-on-4 situation. The Lewiston senior captain finished on a breakaway against Falmouth goalie Spencer Pierce.
Alex Rivet made it 2-0 with a shorthanded goal less than four minutes later, picking up a loose puck along the right boards in the neutral zone before skating past a Yachtsmen defender on his way to beating Pierce.
Falmouth got one friendly bounce just past the six-minute mark of the period. A puck squirted out from the end boards behind the Lewiston net, right to Hembre, who then knocked it in past Blue Devils goalie Jacob Strout.
Four successful Falmouth penalty kills later, Hembre struck again four minutes into the third, with a little more fortune the second time around.
“On the second one, the puck just squirted out from the corner. It was on the goal line and I just threw it on net. I didn’t even know I had the goal until they said it on the speaker,” Hembre said. “I think one of their defensemen hit it in.
“Definitely luck. But, I mean, we deserved it. We held our own, worked hard.”
“It’s a little luck. Puck luck is a big deal,” Barton said. “But to have that I think you got to work hard, and I think you got to do the right things before you get here.”
Hembre and Barton both mentioned “hockey karma” after the game. The Blue Devils were hoping to get a piece of that karma after falling behind 3-2 with eight minutes left. Falmouth took its only lead when Reece Armitage’s shot from the right point was deflected in by Marcus Cady.
Lewiston sent 18 shots Pierce’s way in the third, including eight combined on two power plays after Cady’s goal. But the junior netminder was up to the task.
“If we weren’t getting quality scoring opportunities, then I’d say maybe we have to make an adjustment. But we had several chances where we were coming off the wall, and down low off the post, and we had open nets, and the kid was just making good saves,” Belleau said. “You have to just keep plugging away, and sooner or later you think the chips will fall where they may and be in your favor.”
Pierce finished the game with 44 saves, half of which came on the penalty kill.
“I think he’s the reason we’ve been winning all these games,” Hembre said. “He’s been the support that we need. He’s just the backbone for the team. He keeps us in it.”
Strout made 15 saves for Lewiston, with some of his best work coming late in the third period to keep it a one-goal game.
The teams will get to see each other again real quick, with the rematch coming Saturday in Falmouth. Both teams have a game in between on Wednesday, with the Blue Devils hosting the Kings and Falmouth playing St. Dom’s on the road.
Neither coach said they want to look past those upcoming games, but they know what’s on the horizon this weekend.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Belleau said.
“We’ll be ready,” Barton said.
wkramlich@sunjournal.com
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