BostonFest tournament, game 2

Dawn Patrol Hold on for 3-2 Victory Over Leafs

Matthews Arena, BOS - The Dawn Patrol prevail in the matinee game, beating the Leafs by a score of 3-2. This is the second game of the tournament, and it leaves the Patrol at 1-1, in a position to win later this evening and battle for the championship tomorrow afternoon. It was a seesaw game, with the Dawn Patrol storming back from an early deficit, only to find the Leafs creep back and nearly tie the game as time ran out.

Play was pretty even in the first period, as both teams had solid scoring chances. But the Leafs got the first goal, midway through the period. Their left winger slid down along the boards, and threw out a pass to the charging center. Goalie Jonathan Arnold went out to snare it with his catching glove, only to end up deflecting the fluttering puck into his own net. This put the Leafs up 1-0. Although play was very even through the rest of the period, as the boys in gold rolled out 3 lines of 5 each, the period ended with the Leafs on top.

The Leaf lead didn't last long, as the Dawn Patrol struck early in the second period. Defenseman Michael O'Keefe pinched in and got the puck around behind the Leaf goal. Brian Godfrey snagged the loose puck and laid a perfect pass onto the stick of Joe Valente, who was standing just to the goalies right. Valente fired a quick wrister that found five hold and then the back of the net, bring the Dawn Patrol even at 1-1.

Not too long after that, Bill Berens skated down the left wing. He was looking to pass out front, but fired a snap wrister that fooled the Leafs goalie and ended up in the back of the net, giving the Patrol their first lead of the day, 2-1.

That was the score at the start of the third period, but it changed soon after that. Dan George went in on a breakaway, but the goalie stopped his first shot. But he couldn't control the rebound and George tucked in the rebound, giving the golden boys a commanding 3-1 lead.

But the leafs showed some real heart and continued to play tough. With about 8 minutes left, the right winger battled with Tim Retelle and came down along the boards with the puck. A hard slapper from goalie Arnold's left side manages to get through for the Leafs, and they had new life, pulling to within one with plenty of time on the clock.

The Leafs kept up the pressure, although the Patrol did manage a few good scoring chances. It all came down to a face off in Patrol end, with about 15 seconds left. The Leafs won the face off, and got a few good shots off in the ensuing mad scramble. Goalie Arnold went out to cut down a pass but it eluded him and went right to a Leaf standing in the goal mouth. But the Leaf shot trickled wide. The puck slid around the boards to the Leaf defenseman, who wound up for a big slapper as the clock ran down. Goalie Arnold was able to snag the bullet while he was sitting down, as the buzzer went off, giving the Dawn Patrol their first victory in the 2006 BostonFest tournament, 3-2.