FALMOUTH – The Biddeford High boys’ hockey players may be yawning in class today.
But the tired Tigers will have pleasant memories after a late 6-1 win over Falmouth on Thursday night at Family Ice.
The game began 30 minutes late at 9 p.m. because of late-running games before. But the tardy start didn’t diminish the energy on the ice, especially from the Tigers.
Biddeford led 3-0 after the first period and 5-0 after the second.
Falmouth outshot Biddeford 27-24, but the Tigers had the better chances and the snipers to bury them.
Five players scored the first five goals. Brady Fleurent ended with two goals and an assist. Biddeford goalie John Fields recorded 26 saves.
Biddeford (4-0-2) continued to establish itself as the top team in Western Class A. The Tigers have a tie against Eastern power Lewiston and a 2-2 game with Falmouth last month.
The Yachtsmen (1-3-2) are better than their record but have played a tough schedule.
Falmouth came out flying, forechecking and keeping the puck in the Biddeford zone.
“They were all over us those first two or three shifts,” Biddeford Coach Rich Reissfelder said. “But we were able to get control of the puck, calm down a little and bury a goal.”
Biddeford scored 18 seconds into its first power play. Falmouth had possession in its zone but Tyler Audie freed the puck with a solid check. Scott Callahan skated in and roofed a score at 6:07.
The Tigers scored again 10 seconds later. Fleurent got loose on the right side, skated through the crease and buried a backhander at 6:17.
The third Biddeford goal was set up by its third power play. Tyson Nadeau skated the puck strong into the Falmouth zone, bouncing off checks. He got the puck to Nate Crepeau, who took a shot. Nick Gagne scored on the rebound at 12:25, one second after the power play expired.
Falmouth got new life at the end of the period with a five-on-three advantage that carried over for 58 seconds of the second period.
But Biddeford’s penalty kill, anchored by Gagne on defense and Fields in goal, flustered Falmouth, which was only 1 of 10 on the power play.
The Tigers made it 4-0 when Fleurent drew a crowd in the right circle, kept control and passed to a wide-open Bryan Dallaire in the high slot. He roofed a goal at 5:44.
On Biddeford’s fourth power play, Travis Guay rebounded in a slap shot at 8:33 for a 5-0 lead.
The whistles came often for the rest of the period, with the Tigers’ penalty box filling up.
On a five-on-three to start the third period, Matt MacDowell of Falmouth scored on a slap shot at 30 seconds. Fleurent answered at 4:56 for a 6-1 lead.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:
kthomas@pressherald.com
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