BIDDEFORD — Top-ranked Biddeford kept the goals coming Tuesday, beating eighth-seeded Scarborough 5-2 in a Western Class A boys’ hockey quarterfinal at the Biddeford Ice Arena.
Derek Reny scored three goals and added an assist, and Trevor Fleurent had a goal and two assists for the Tigers.
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Biddeford (16-2-1) moved into the semifinals Saturday against fourth-seeded South Portland at Lewiston. Game times will be announced later.
Scarborough (6-11-2) played Biddeford tough during the season but couldn’t keep up Tuesday.
”We knew we couldn’t stay back in this game,” Reny said. ”We knew they were going to come out hard.”
But Biddeford came out and put the puck on goal, outshooting the Red Storm, 42-22.
”We definitely had a lot of energy,” Tigers Coach Rich Reissfelder said. ”We’ve had (strong) periods before, but to play like that for all three periods is a good sign.”
The Tigers recently adjusted their productive top line, moving Craig Anton’s creativity to the second line, and bringing Reny up to join brothers Trevor and Brady Fleurent.
”We wanted to make it harder for teams to match up. Teams had been keying on that top line,” Reissfelder said. ”Reny is fast and Craig is such a playmaker. It helps both lines.”
Reny, a strong skater, can create space for the Fleurents. Early in the game, he skated toward the left post and left a drop pass to the trailing Brady Fleurent. He roofed his shot in at 3:22.
Biddeford kept attacking but Scarborough goalie Matt Mayo (37 saves) held up.
When Scarborough got the first power play, it started to create opportunities. Tigers goalie Matt Roy (20 saves) made the stops and the Tigers countered.
On the penalty kill, Trevor Fleurent got possession and skated down the right side. As soon as a defender approached, Fleurent crossed to Reny. He also went upstairs for a short-handed goal at 9:18.
In the second period, Scarborough’s dangerous Trevor Hoxsie made one of his many rushes. Defenseman Nick Gagne swept in at the last moment to swat the puck away.
When the teams were four-on-four, Reny was at it again. Mayo made a save, then stopped the rebound, but Reny was there for a second rebound, albeit on his knees.
Reny backhanded it in at 4:59 for a 3-0 lead. Anton and Nick Fitzgerald got the assists.
The Red Storm got new life by scoring a power-play goal at 6:28, with Hoxsie putting in the rebound. Andrew Nigro and Brett Leighton were credited with assists.
But Scarborough dampened its own enthusiasm with a couple of penalties — slashing and cross-checking — to give the Tigers a five-on-three advantage.
”We got momentum and then we took the penalties,” Scarborough Coach Norm Gagne said. ”We had to stay out of the box. They’re too good. And five-on-four is bad enough. When you give them five-on-three ”
Biddeford worked the puck around. Gagne slid it over to Trevor Fleurent, who sailed it under the crossbar for a 4-1 lead at 18:49.
Reny scored a power-play goal early in the third period to put it away. Hoxsie added a score with 52 seconds left.
Biddeford last played South Portland on Dec. 10, winning 7-1.
”That was a long, long time ago,” Reissfelder said.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald.com
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