The Hobart Statesmen (4-0) used quick goals in the opening moments of the first and second period to set the tone, then rolled on to a 7-2 victory over the Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen (0-4).
“My feeling is five minutes at the start and five minutes at the end of each period,” said Hobart coach Mark Taylor. “If you win those portions of the game you’ll be in pretty good shape.”
Lebanon Valley got off to a quick start from the opening faceoff, dominating the first three shifts of the game, but Hobart struck first as a delayed penalty was about to be called on the Flying Dutchmen. Daniel Organ swatted in a rebound from a scramble in front of the Lebanon Valley net just 1:26 into the game to give Hobart the early 1-0 lead.
That tally, and three straight penalties, sent Lebanon Valley into a bit of a tailspin and Hobart completely dominated the next twelve minutes of play.
“We’re a young team, but we are beginning to play,” said Lebanon Valley coach Ted Russell. “The kids have to buy into the system that we want, to play simple and play hard. We gave them [Hobart] too many chances on the power play.”
Hobart struck for a second time at 10:36, again off a scramble in front of Lebanon Valley netminder Aaron Miller. This time, it was Bobby Cahill with the goal, and Hobart led 2-0.
The score could have been even more lopsided, but Miller came up with some great saves, including a big toe save from a two-on-one Hobart breakaway, to keep the Flying Dutchmen within reach.
Lebanon Valley started to gain some traction late in the first period, using two straight Hobart penalties to settle things down and put offensive pressure in the Hobart zone. Despite several chances, Hobart held on to the 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.
Hobart started off quick in the second period as well, scoring just thirty-nine seconds in. Aleksey Koval intercepted a poor Lebanon Valley clearing pass right in the slot and wristed home the puck for the goal to extend the Statesmen lead to 3-0.
However, things quickly unraveled for Hobart as two straight penalties led to two quick Lebanon Valley goals. The first came at 2:02, when Rob Scales deflected a shot from the point by E.J. Smith that snuck through goaltender Dimitri Papaevagelout’s legs.
The second Flying Dutchmen goal was scored at 3:48 by Jared Frey, whose shot from the top of the slot rattled inside the upper right corner of the net.
“Penalties are still hurting us,” said Taylor. “I’ve watched the video and am pretty comfortable with the officiating. We have got to play hard, play gritty, and play with reckless abandon at times, but it’s not a frickin’ Playstation where you can click and reset the game.”
The spurt of goals energized both teams, and blistering end-to-end action ensued for the next five minutes of play.
Flying Dutchmen penalties just past mid-period allowed Hobart to re-establish it’s two goal lead at the 12:30 mark. Ryan Adler’s blast from the top of the slot wound through a throng of players and into the back of the net while Hobart was skating on a five-on-three power play.
Gregory Alberti made the score 5-2 at 17:41 when he carried the puck out from behind the Lebanon Valley net and wristed it over Miller’s shoulder for a goal.
The Statesmen added to their lead in the third period. Koval tallied his second goal of the game at 5:46 when he swatted in a rebound from a shot by Cahill.
Blake Bonham scored a power play goal at 10:49 to make the score 7-2 off another scramble in front of Miller.
