The Lockport Express edged closer to a playoff spot after an 8-2 victory over the East Coast Minutemen at the Essex Sports Center in Massachusetts. They now trail the Roc City Royals by 3 points with four games left on Lockport’s schedule. Roc City has two games remaining, including one against the Express on Friday.
Frankie Bodami put Lockport on the board at 6:29 of the first period, assisted by Aaron Shahin and Brandon Schweickert. Blake Bennett extended Lockport’s lead two minutes later. He got assists from Andrew Logar and Chace Woods. The Express carried that 2-0 lead into the intermission.
Bennett struck again in the second period when he found the back of the net at 3:08. Logar and Gibson Stuart were credited with the assists. The Express stretched the lead to 4-0 off the stick of Andrew Logar. The goal, at 10:36, was assisted by Bennett and Stuart on the power play. East Coast struck with their own power play goal by Kami Kortelainen at 14:35.
Leevi Kervinen scored only 48 seconds into the third period to draw the Minutemen within two goals. However, it was Lockport exploding for four goals to salt it away for the visitors. Bennett completed his hat trick at 6:44, with assists from Brandon Tripi and Josh Evoy. Erick Santiago added his own tally 58 seconds later. Evoy and Logar assisted.
Brandon Schweickert continued Lockport’s scoring touch with a power play goal at 9:16. Frankie Bodami and Aaron Shahin assisted. Andrew Logar closed out the scoring for the contest, grabbing his marker at 15:51. Bennett and John Duffy provided the assists.
Goalie Adam Partridge stopped 32 of 34 shots faced in the win. Minuteman, Dom Montecalvo turned away 48 of 56 shots by Lockport. The Express were 2 for 2 on the power play, while East Coast was 1 for 4.
The same teams face off Sunday morning at 11:00AM. Lockport will play Roc City Friday night in Rochester. They will return to Cornerstone Ice Arena Saturday and Sunday for the last two games of the regular season on Saturday and Sunday. They will play against the East Coast Minutemen in those contests.
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