Heading into Playoffs, Cranston East Downs EP, 1-0

Cranston East denied East Providence’s bid to secure a playoff berth on Saturday, downing the Townies, 1-0, at Dennis Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.

After two scoreless periods, junior forward Robert Kuczek notched the game’s lone goal with 6:32 remaining in regulation, and sophomore goaltender Dominic Dibiase preserved the lead with 16 saves for the Thunderbolts.

East Providence’s John Andrews turned aside 16 shots, as well, denying several point-blank opportunities throughout the contest.

“Our kids came out ready to play, and it was a good up-and-down game. It was an evenly matched game,” said Paul "P.J." Bessette, head coach of the Thunderbolts. “I think whoever scored the first goal was going to win, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Cranston East generated several good offensive opportunities during the first period, and the Townies struggled to move the puck away from Andrews. The senior net-minder was forced to make six saves throughout the first 12 minutes, while his counterpart made only four.

“I thought we were slow,” said Gregg Amore, head coach of the Townies. “I’ve got to go back to the first weekend of the season to remember us with such flat legs.”

According to Amore, East Providence was forced to adjust their schedule recently, in accordance with the restoration of the roof at Dennis Lynch Arena. Though the Townies skated Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, they could not play last week while a truss was repaired, and they seemed to move and pass ineffectively Saturday.

“I think we might’ve turned it over 11 times tonight; six were in the first period, inside our zone,” Gregg Amore, head coach of the Townies. “That’s terrible. You can’t win like that.”

Yet, East Providence nearly established a one-goal advantage during the second period, when senior forward Trevor Medeiros’ back-hander slipped past Dibiase and hit the goalie’s left post.

The Townies out-shot the Thunderbolts, 6-4, during a second stanza that featured five penalties and quite a bit of extra-curricular physical activity.

“East Providence is going to make the playoffs, we’re going to make the playoffs, so they knew if they had beat us, they were tied with us, so it had that atmosphere of being a playoff,” Bessette said.

The fifth-place Townies (6-5-0-1) needed two points to move up alongside the third-place Thunderbolts (8-3-1-0), but they trailed, 1-0, after Andrews bobbled junior Eric Fay’s bid from the right point and Kuczek chipped in the rebound at 5:28 of the third period.

East Providence could not respond, though senior forward and leading-scorer James Hall nearly potted the puck with a man-advantage and six attacking Townies on the ice.

“We missed one with three seconds left that looked like it was pretty wide open. Normally, he puts that home,” Amore said, referring to an under-the-weather Hall.

East Providence is still primed to capture a tournament bid as a top-six team, and they will attempt to lock up their spot when they encounter Warwick Veterans High School, 2-10-0-0, Friday, February 18 at Thayer Ice Arena.

The Townies and Thunderbolts will meet again, Feb.25 at Levy Rink, after Cranston East deals with Scituate, Feb. 18 in Smithfield, and the co-operative squad representing West Warwick and Exeter/West-Greenwich, Feb. 19 in Cranston.

With four games to play, the Thunderbolts could still earn a first-round bye by moving into second place. However, if they cannot surpass either Mt. Hope or Johnston/North Providence, their quarterfinal opponent would likely be either the Tolman Tigers, the West Warwick-Exeter/West Greenwich co-op squad, or the Townies of East Providence.

“We need a little help to get second place, but if my kids keep playing like this, it doesn’t matter where we end up. I think we’ll be fine,” Bessette said.