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Big third period gives Peabody big win over Danvers

Sunday, February, 10 By Phil Stacey
Sports editor

SALEM | It started out as a frustrating Saturday night for the Peabody Tanners.

By game's end, that frustrating feeling had turned to happiness.

A little over an hour later, that happiness became pure glee.

Unable to freely use their speed and stickhandling ability for the better part of two periods, the Tanners finally shook off their shackles and scored three times in a little less than six minutes in the final frame, prevailing over host Danvers, 4-2, in a Northeastern Conference Large showdown before 1,000 partisans at Salem State's Rockett Arena.

But that was only the first part of good news they'd get on this night. When Revere finished off a 5-3 upset of NEC front-runner Gloucester later in the evening, the Tanners (13-4) saw destiny pay them a much-welcomed visit.

Peabody's win, coupled with Gloucester's loss, sets up a terrific showdown Wednesday night at the McVann-O'Keefe Rink in Peabody | with first place in the NEC Large on the line. Gloucester (10-4-2 overall) comes in with 20 points in conference play (9-2-2), while Peabody sits two points behind (9-4-0). A Tanner win gives them a season sweep of the Fishermen | and more importantly, ties them for first place in the NEC.

"That's what it's all about," said Peabody coach Mark Leonard. "This is why we couldn't wait to get into the Northeastern Conference (this season). You want to play the best and put yourselves in position to win the title."

That almost didn't happen, thanks to a relentless Danvers (9-5-2) team that once again effectively trapped the Tanners all over the ice Saturday night and pounded them into the corners and in front of the net.

Those factors, coupled with another spectacular outing from Falcons' senior captain Patrick O'Kane (30 saves) in goal | "he just doesn't get intimidated" said Leonard | nearly prevented the visitors from pulling out the victory.

Attacking the Peabody zone whenever the opportunity presented itself, the Falcons (7-4-2 NEC) tied the game in the second period when captain Steve Kontos netted his 12th goal early in the second period.

Then, senior Jay Sabino | who had been denied moments earlier on a terrific individual move | got a measure of revenge when he took a cross-crease pass from linemate Stephen Deroche and beat Peabody keeper Jonathan Camara (19 saves) low stick side.

"It was frustrating, because they were slowing us down and doing a good job at it," said Peabody captain Pat Yeo. "If we get out of our system, we break down."

"We knew they'd try to go up the middle and use their speed on the bigger ice surface here," surmised Danvers head coach Kevin Brown, whose team upset the Tanners, 3-2, earlier in the season. "I thought we did a good job of clogging the middle. We made it tough for them."

But the Tanners' resolve wouldn't break down. Sixty-nine seconds after Sabino's go-ahead goal, Peabody sophomore Andrew Bucci jammed a Zack Brown pass under O'Kane's pads, tying it up at 2-2.

"It's a funny game sometimes," said Leonard, whose team has won four straight and 10 of its last dozen games. "Sometimes you get a spark when the other team does something good before you do. It helps kick your team into another gear."

Then came some controversy. A.J. Parker of the Tanners was whistled off for elbowing with 6:47 to play, giving the hosts a power play. However, Peabody speedster Elijah Cohen (2 assists) broke out of his own zone on a breakaway, with Danvers defenseman Jake Korthas frantically trying to get back to stop him.

Korthas, a Danvers captain, got a body on Cohen and knocked him off the puck and, eventually, his skates before he got his shot off on O'Kane. However, the trailing official raised his arm and called a tripping penalty on Korthas, putting the two teams at 4-on-4.

Peabody immediately took advantage of the open space, with sophomore Matt Rodgers tipping a Cohen shot past O'Kane's glove for a 3-2 lead.

"That (penalty) turned the whole tide of the game around," Brown said, still upset at the call afterwards.

"It did; it turned the whole game in our favor," Leonard agreed.

Feeding off of that momentum, captain James Noftle gave Peabody a huge two-goal advantage by burying his second goal of the night, a power play tally with just under five minutes remaining. It gave him his team-leading 18th goal, as well as 94 career points.

"We had to fight through Danvers' trap and stay patient," said Noftle. "We've seen the trap a lot this year, so I think we know now what we need to do to get through it as the game goes on."

"Our perseverance paid off," said Leonard. "This one shows you every game in this league is a battle. It prepares you well (for the state tournament)."