Madison Hockey Upended by Gov. Livingston

MORRISTOWN – The Madison High School ice hockey team is wrapping up its regular season, and that means it's time to start taking peeks into its playoff future. The Dodgers did just that Sunday night at Mennen Arena, taking on Union County power Governor Livingston.

And though the Dodgers fell to the Highlanders, 7-5, Madison coach Dave Hansen couldn't be too upset with his team's effort.

"We've got the end of our regular season coming up," Hansen said. "If we play like we did tonight against the teams in our league, we're going to be fine."

Teddy Udelsman scored five goals for Governor Livingston (11-5-2), the current leader of the Union County Ice Hockey League, while Nick Sousa tallied seven assists. Brett Anton scored two goals for Madison (9-4-1), and Greg Maxwell added a goal and two assists.

It was a wild, up-and-down affair that saw both teams crash the net and launch quality shot after quality shot. The two teams combined for 11 goals–eight in the second period alone–on 41 shots through two periods.

Madison trailed by three goals on two different occasions, but came back and had their chances to tie it up in the third period.

Anton's second goal, following an attempted Highlander clearance stopped by the Madison forward feet in front of goalie Matt Arrigoni, cut Madison's deficit to 6-5 with 1:39 to play in the second period.

The Dodgers' big chance came early in the third period. Governor Livingston players were called for a penalty at the 11:45 and 11:05 marks, giving Madison an extended 5-on-3 advantage. The Dodgers had two good chances to equalize, including a pile-up in front of the Highlanders' net, but the GL defense held strong.

"We had opportunities to score right there," Hansen said. "In the end, if we did what we do in practice, we would be fine. But we don't bring our practices to the game. Our patience just isn't there."

Once the power plays expired, both teams traded long spells of possession without creating many good looks at the net.

Governor Livingston put the game away on Bergquist's second goal with 3:35 remaining. It came after a beautiful save by Perry, but the Madison goalie didn't cover up the puck and he lost control of it. After a mad scramble, Bergquist cleaned up the mess and coolly placed the puck in the net.

"They just find the net," Hansen said. "They do a nice job of getting a 2-on-1, and every time down they're getting quality shots."

In the end, the Dodgers found it difficult to come back from their early deficit against the speedy, skilled Highlanders. Hansen said the Dodgers came out looking intimidated, shying away from hits.

Governor Livingston scored two power play goals in the first eight minutes, and the Highlanders could've had more if not for Perry's glove. Cody Bergquist beat Madison goalie Grant Perry (24 saves) with a wide-open slapshot stick side just 1:58 into the game.

Udelsman then scored the first of his five midway through the period, again with the Highlanders holding a man advantage. Bergquist launched a shot at Perry, who made the save, but the puck dribbled around the crease, and Udelsman was the first one to get to it.

"They're a quality team," Hansen said. "They move the puck well, they're always in position, they're extremely quick."

But things turned around when Madison began to play more physically and slow down Governor Livingston's pace.

"Once we started playing the body, we got into a nice rhythm, we slowed them down a little," Hansen said.

Anton's first goal, off a rebound, started a late-first period flurry to pull Madison within one goal and even on shots, 8-8. Udelsman gave a preview of what was to come in the second period when he scored, eight seconds in.

Governor Livingston scored four goals in the first six minutes, while Madison scored two. The Highlanders' led, 6-3, with 9:09 to play in the second, but it was clear that more goals were to come.

Maxwell scored on a long slapshot with 6:13 left to cut the deficit to 6-4, and Anton's second goal set up the frantic third period.

"We got down," Hansen said. "But I told them, everything you're taking, every shot you're getting is quality.

Governor Livingston outshot Madison, 31-29.

Madison is now 1-1 against Union County foes, having beaten Westfield on Jan. 14 in Woodbridge. The Blue Devils are currently tied for 2nd place with Summit in the UCIHL. The Hilltoppers will be the third and final Union County opponent on the Dodgers schedule - the teams meet in Madison's regular-season finale Feb. 12.


UP NEXT
The Dodgers return to Haas Division play Friday night when they travel to the Chill Out Sports Arena in Hackettstown to take on West Morris (11-3-1, 8-2-1). Madison knocked off the Wolfpack, 3-1, at Mennen Arena on Jan. 4. West Morris currently sits in second place in the Haas Division, one point behind Roxbury. The winner should have the inside track on at least a No. 2 seed in the Haas Cup, as Madison is just two points behind West Morris with a game in hand on the Wolfpack.

SCORING SUMMARY
Gov. Livingston    2  4  1  -  7
Madison                   1  4  0  -  5

FIRST PERIOD
G- Cody Bergquist (power play, from Ted Case and Nick Sousa), 1:58
G- Teddy Udelsman (power play, from Bergquist and Sousa), 8:09
M- Brett Anton (from Lou Cecala), 13:58

SECOND PERIOD
G- Udelsman (from Bergquist and Sousa), 0:08
G- Udelsman (from Bergquist and Sousa), 2:42
M- Erik Andersson (from Greg Maxwell), 3:17
G- Udelsman (from Sousa and Mike Mastrandrea), 4:49
M- Cecala (from Anton and Maxwell), 5:13
G- Udelsman (power play, from Sousa and Bergquist), 5:51
M- Maxwell (from Cecala and Bobby Yutko), 8:47
M- Anton (from Spencer Waresk), 13:01

THIRD PERIOD
G- Bergquist (from Ian Bruno and Nick Sousa), 11:25

SHOTS ON GOAL
Gov. Livingston   8  13  10  -  31
Madison                  8   12   9  -  29