Merrimack Storms Back Late for 3-2 Victory Over #17 Vermont
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BURLINGTON, VT -
Jesse Todd (Camrose, AB) and Stephane Da
Costa (Paris, France) scored 18 seconds apart as Merrimack
came from behind in the final two minutes to shock #17 Vermont 3-2
Saturday night at the Gutterson Fieldhouse.
Merrimack (11-15-1, 8-11-1 HEA) returns home Friday to open a
home-and-home series with the University of Massachusetts at 7 p.m.
After taking three points over the Catamounts, Merrimack trails
Vermont by two points for the final playoff spot and has a game in
hand on UVM.
“This was all about business,” Todd said. “We
treated this like it was a playoff series. We got the job done.
Every game from here on in is big. Every game we have to treat like
a playoff game from here on in. We can’t rely on other teams
to lose, we need to take our points and we’ll get our job
done.”
With goaltender Joe Cannata (Wakefield, MA)
pulled for the extra attacker, Todd found a loose puck in front of
Rob Madore and buried it for his first goal in 21 games to tie the
game. Joe Cucci (Melrose Park, IL) won the faceoff
and worked it to Brandon Brodhag (Brooklyn Park,
MN), who dished it to Chris Barton (Calgary,
AB). Barton's shot was blocked but the puck went right to
Todd, who buried it past Madore for his third of the season.
Eighteen seconds later, Da Costa, who had the game-tying goal
Friday, weaved through the Catamount defense and faked out Madore,
beating him glove side for the game-winner, his 13th of
the season.
“I just had my move and went to it,” said Da Costa,
who was sporting a yellow hard hat, awarded by his teammates for
being the hardest working player on the ice. “The past few
games we have deserved this. We have been outworking teams and not
getting wins and we deserved to finally get a win.”
In earning their first road win of the
season, the Warriors had a season-high 45 shots, outshooting
Vermont 45-20 in the game, including 21-6 in the third period.
“Our guys have worked hard for this,” said Merrimack
head coach Mark Dennehy. “That was 13 losses all pent up into
one win. It’s a relief, but we worked hard for it.”
Da Costa had two points on the night, giving him 35 on the year.
Chris Barton (Calgary, AB) added two assists and eight shots in the
victory as the Warriors improved to 2-0-1 in their last three.
The teams played to a scoreless first period for the second
straight night before Jeff Velleca (Waterbury, CT) netted his sixth
of the season, taking a pretty pass from Da Costa and one-timing it
past the blocker of Madore.
But the Catamounts evened the score at 5:21 as Jack Downing put
home a rebound off a Patrick Cullity slap shot on the power
play.
Merrimack controlled possession for most of the second outshooting
the hosts 13-8 in the period and 24-14 through two periods. Da
Costa's line was particularly sharp, as the freshman drilled a post
while Barton and Velleca were also stopped by Madore. The Warriors'
offensive pressure continued as they registered nine shots in the
first 3:10 of the third, including two more from Barton.
Vermont netted its second power play goal of the game at 4:46 of
the third as a Kyle Medvec slap shot was redirected by David
Pacan.
Barton and Da Costa were each a +3 and combined for 14 shots in the
game. Merrimack's defense combined for 15 shots, five by Karl
Stollery (Camrose, AB), who added an assist and was a +3 in the
game.
Making his third straight start in net, Cannata posted 18 saves.
The Warriors were 0-for-2 on the power play, despite registering
six shots on their second man-advantage.
