The Lockport Express edged ever closer to that final playoff spot in the Northeast Division of the NA3HL after a convincing 12-2 victory over the East Coast Minutemen at the Essex Sports Arena in Massachusetts. Lockport now trails Roc City by a single point for the position, with the next game to be those two teams on Friday evening in Rochester.
Lockport’s scoring came from 8 different players with 15 players getting at least a point in Sunday’s contest. Goalie, Adam Partridge, stopped 31 of 33 shots on the day, and Lockport was able to pepper the Minutemen with 65 shots.
Mitchell Thornton broke open the scoring 3:05 into the first period, assisted by Ryan Metzler. Less than two minutes later, Chace Woods added to the Lockport lead. Blake Bennet and Andrew Logar had the assists. Logar netted one of his own at 15:59 with assists credited to Nick Grupp and Gibson Stuart. The Express held that 3-0 lead into the intermission.
Just like he did in the first period, Mitchell Thornton opened the scoring in the second. His second of the game came from Branden Tripi and Michael Sokol. Domenic Senese added his own marker at 6:38 of the second for a 5-0 Lockport lead. Nick Grupp and Luca Mazzo were credited with the assists. Kyler Harding put East Coast of the board, unassisted, at 8:27.
Lockport answered when Luca Mazzo scored at 11:38. He was assisted by Erick Santiago and Domenic Senese. Chase Woods nabbed his second of the contest to extend the Lockport lead to 7-1 at 17:49. Bennett and Logar assisted. Kami Kortelainen scored for the Minutemen just before the end of the period.
The third period was all Lockport as they were able to score five goals in the final frame. Frankie Bodami scored 92 seconds into the third, assisted by Aaron Shahin. Senese added his second of the afternoon just one minute later. Santiago and Mazzo earned the assists. Blake Bennett notched his 35th goal of the season at 8:50. Woods and Logar added the assists. Brandon Schweickert found the scoresheet with a goal from Shahin and Bodami at 16:59. Chace Woods completed the hat trick with 23 seconds left in the game to make it 12-2. Bennett and Logar assisted on the marker.
Now trailing Roc City by a single point, the game Friday night at the Lakeshore Arena becomes that much more important. Lockport holds one more game in hand over the Royals. They will play East Coast two more times this regular season, Saturday and Sunday. They are the final regular season games for the Express, and will be at the Cornerstone Ice Arena.
All home games can be heard LIVE on Niagara’s Watercooler.
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