WPCNR PENALTY BOX. November 27, 2005: Mahopac High shut out the White Plains Ice Tigers 5-0 with two power play goals behind the immaculate netminding of Chris Mammano who robbed Tiger snipers five times mano a mano on Ebersole Ice. In a game filled with 23 penalties, evenly divided between the two hockey clubs, the penalties were costly to the Tigers. When White Plains had the advantage, Mammano was equal to the task.
Kick Save and a Beauty! Chris Mammano in Goal for Mahopac (Or is it Ken Dryden?) stops Charlie Pavarini's breakaway in the first period. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
After 12 minutes of scoreless hockey, a back-of-the-head hit Tiger penalty with 3 minutes to go in the first period, lead to the first goal of the game ffor the PAC on the ensuing power play. Nicky Alosco took a pass behind the Tiger goal and wrapped the puck around and in from behind the goal past Jake Weinstein between knee and post on the short side for a 1-0 lead. Earlier Mahopac's Mammano had shown it was going to be a tough night when he robbed Charlie Pavarini on short-handed breakway point blank.
Tiger Power Plays Thwarted
At the close of the first period, Mahopac took two penalties, giving White Plains a two-man advantage for 23 seconds and a man advantage for the next 52 seconds but could not capitalize with Chris Flynn the only Tiger to get a shot on goal during this 2 then 1 man advantage, and Chris's was from the blueline. The disciplined Mahopac penalty killers cut off the passing lanes and when the Tigers managed to hit a Tiger blade, the puck would not stick. The teams traded penalties through the second period, two apiece, with The PAC getting off the better power plays. Jake Weinstein in goal for the Tigers made three spectacular saves, gloving one, kicking aside another and plucking off another. The scruffy penalties the Tigers took prevented any offense from getting going.
It's a Power Play Goal! Jake Weinstein in goal for the Tigers has just kicked out a shot by Alex Stevenson (26). Dom Varrone in blue jersey, center of picture is about to go for the puck between the legs of the Tiger defender for the goal that will give Mahopac a 2-0 lead. Varrone shot past Jake on his left side.Photo, WPCNR Sports.
Turning Point
With 3:53 to go in the second period, still 1-0, PAC, a double penalty to White Plains Joe DeFreitas for a trip and hit to the back of the head, meant the Tigers would be down a Tiger for the rest of the period. A minute later after the Tigers had held off the Pack for a minute, Tim Conroy was sent off for a trip at 2:24, leaving the Tigers 2 men short. Less than 35 seconds later, the double penalties cost a goal. With the Pack camped around Jake Weinstein, firing away, Weinstein stopped a 6-footer dead and it bounced out free in front, and Dom Vorrone whipped in the rebound for a 2-0 lead at the close of the second period. Mahopac with White Plains shorthanded out shot WP 11-7 in the second period.
Tigers Rage at the Net, but Mahopac's Mammano turns them aside.
In the third period, trailing 2-0 the Tigers gave up a third goal just after failing to capitalize on a Power Play, when Nicky Alosco took the puck coming out of his defensive zone on passes fromVarrone and Rob Fitchett and cleared the blue line at center ice for the Tiger goal. He walked right in on a full head of steam and poked the puck past Jake in a terrific individual effort, to make it 3-0 at 12:20. After that the Tigers threw everything they had at Mahopac's goaltender, but he was equal to the task stopping four more breakaways.
Third PAC Goal: Alosco (21 in blue) celebrating after skating down Broadway for the third goal. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
Chris Flynn Robbed, Third period. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
Glove Save and a honey! Tim Conroy robbed! Third Period. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
Mahopac scored two more goals with less than five minutes to go to close out the scoring. Chris Mammano had 28 saves in the shutout, five of them of the spectacular variety. Asked how he handles a breakaway, Mammano said, "I just follow the puck." Even when the Tigers had him beaten the puck would just miss open net wide, which happened twice.
The Tigers were hurt by 12 penalties which hampered their offense from getting going. Even when they were at full-strength, the Mahopac strategy of playing the center at their blue line and the defensivemen at the face off hashmarks cut off the passing lanes and reduced the Tigers to long shots in. Mahopac plays a virtual power play box defense at full-strength that disrupted the high speed Tigers. Less penalties taken by the Tigers would have helped.
