Boys Hockey: Sentinels Special Teams Shine in Victory over Falcons

Smithfield's boys hockey team traveled to Cranston Ice Rink on Saturday night to take on the Falcons from Cranston West. The Sentinels came away with a hard fought 2-1 victory.

Special teams told the story in Saturday night's contest. Smithfield went 2 for 5 on the power play and the Falcons went 0 for 5. The two power play goals and great penalty killing sparked the Sentinels to the victory.

"We work on our penalty kill a lot in practice and we take pride in it," Smithfield's coach, Rob Jackson, said.

With just under nine minutes left in the first period, Sentinels senior Ryan Malloy hustled to the puck in front of the net and buried home his opportunity for the power play goal.

The Falcons tied the score with 46 seconds remaining in the first on a fantastic play. Rich Reo led teammate Garrett Demers with a pass off the boards and Demers crossed it to the center of the goal, where Reo fired the shot into the back of the net.

Smithfield would end up scoring the final goal of the game with nine and a half minutes left in the second period. DJ Hayes picked up the rebound in front of the net and stuffed it home, giving the Sentinels a 2-1 lead.

Smithfield's goalie, junior Matt Mattson, was phenomenal all night long.

"Their goalie played extremely well," Michael Boyajian, Falcons head coach, said.

"Our goalie has been playing well all season and has stepped up his game," Jackson added, "Every night he gives us a chance to win."

Cranston West had their scoring chances in the third period, but were unable to convert on them. The game was even and neither team dominated possession.

"The effort was there both nights this weekend and we are going to battle night in and night out," Boyajian added.