PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
Brian Chalmers scores Winthrop’s first goal despite pressure from the Jets’Steve Patrie.
By GORDON VINCENT
WINTHROP — If there’s truth to the notion the last team to score feels better about a tie, then the Lynn Jets were the happier team after their 3-3 draw with Winthrop, Saturday, at Larsen Rink.
Mike Clougherty‘s goal with 5:07 left in the third period drew the Jets (10-3-3) level, after earlier goals for Lynn by Brian Clougherty and Sean Devin. John DiFilippo had a pair of assists.
For the Vikings (13-1-3), Brian Chalmers, Gene August and Steve Holgerson scored one goal each, while Matt Tarantino had two assists.
“I thought this was our best effort of the season team-wise, mentally and physically,” said Jets coach Joe Conlon. “The players gave 100 percent out there today.”
Brian Cloughtery put the Jets ahead at 7:38 of the first period when the scored on a rebound of a shot by DiFilippo. Winthrop goaltender Ryan Skoczylas made the initial stop of DiFilippo’s shot from the left faceoff circle, but the puck caromed right to Clougherty, who buried a one-timer with authority.
Mike Clougherty almost doubled Lynn’s lead about two minutes later when his shot from the left circle hit the near post, and two minutes later Skoczylas robbed Brian Clougherty who tried to snap home a rebound of a shot from the right point by Steve Patrie.
Winthrop equalized when Chalmers scored with 1:42 left in the first period. His shot from the slot from about 20 feet banked off the far post past Lynn goalie Jack Stafford.
Mike Clougherty had another good chance on a power play early in the second period. He stick-handled past a defender and found himself with an open shot from about 10 feet, but then hooked a shot over the net.
The Vikings took their first lead at 6:39 of the second period when August scored on a 2-on-1. The winger opted to shoot from the right circle, and the puck beat Stafford low.
The Jets evened the score with a power play goal with 3:30 left in the second period. After Chris Finn was sent to the penalty box for holding, Jon Kosmas won a faceoff and the puck came back to Steve Patrie at the left point. Skoczylas made the initial stop, but Devin fired the rebound home from the left of the net.
Winthrop answered with a power play goal of its own with 18 seconds left in the second period to make the score 3-2. Holgerson collected a rebound and ripped the puck from the right of the net past Stafford on the short side.
“Those goals late in the period are the kind you usually don’t come back from,” Conlon said “I thought our players showed a lot of character in the third period.”
Brian Clougherty had a couple of chances on the same shift about five minutes into the third period, but both bids were turned away by Skoczylas. Mike Clougherty finally evened the score when he converted a rebound of a shot from the right point by Patrie.
The Vikings had the best chances to break the tie. With about a minute left, Stafford had to make two terrific saves, first on a shot from the left point by Dave Barry and then on the rebound by Bryce Costin.
The Jets play Gloucester at Connery Rink on Wednesday (8), while the Vikings play Marblehead on Monday (7:30) at Salem State.