The Lockport Express kept their playoff hopes alive with a 6-2 victory over the visiting East Coast Minutemen at the Cornerstone Ice Arena Saturday evening. The Express now trail the Roc City Royals by a single point. Both teams still have a single game left to play in the regular season. The Express will take on the Minutemen this afternoon at 2:00pm. Roc City will face off against Syracuse next Saturday at Morrisville.
Chace Woods opened the scoring for the Express 4:56 into the first period, from Blake Bennett and Andrew Logar. Lockport extended their lead off the stick of Logar at 15:25. Blake Bennett was the lone assist on the power play tally. Erick Santiago gave the Express a 3-0 lead just two minutes later. Luca Mazzo and Domenic Senese were credited with the assists.
The only scoring of the second period was scored by the East Coast Minutemen. Shamus Lombard. The goal, coming 4:03 into the period, was assisted by Nick Padgett.
Michael Sokol broke free on a partial breakaway in the third period and put the puck past Nick Kent at 8:20. On the ensuing faceoff, Sokol broke again and almost scored exactly the same goal. A defenseman’s stick caught a piece of the puck and it went wide.
Eric Steeves scored for the Minutemen to bring them within two goals. The tally, coming at 10:39, was assisted by Cam Crowley and Leevi Kervinen. The Express answered with a marker by Chace Woods. Logar and Bennett assisted. Gibson Stuart provided the late insurance goal on the power play for Lockport to give them the 6-2 victory. Bennett and Senese were credited with the assists.
Lockport goalie, Sam Fitzpatrick made 34 of 36 shots face. Nick Kent turned away 39 shots. Lockport was 2 for three on the power play. East Coast was 0 for three with the man advantage.
Sunday’s game is set to get underway at 2:00pm.
All home games can be heard LIVE on Niagara’s Watercooler.
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