Yarmouth entered the Cross Insurance Arena on Monday night to play a previously postponed game versus Cape Elizabeth. It may have not been a sell out crowd, but the boys in blue were determined to put on a show for all the fans that made their way into the big city to watch. Yarmouth had beaten Cape earlier in the season 3-2, so the Capers were looking to get even.
The first period started similar to the way most Yarmouth vs Cape competitions go (ice hockey or not), with Cape trying to exert their physical style of play. The young Clipper team was familiar with Cape’s game plan and did their best to stay prepared. Unfortunately, 50 seconds into the period Cape scored off of a face-off in the Clipper’s zone on a screened shot. Yarmouth goaltender, Charles Henry Watson had no chance of seeing it, let alone, saving the top corner bullet. Cape was up 1-0. Play resumed, body checks were given and received and the period came to an end with the score still 1-0 in Cape’s favor. Shots on goal for the period were Yarmouth 3, Cape 11.
Yarmouth found its footing in the second period and worked hard to reverse the dominance they lacked in the first. The referees did their best to control the infractions on the ice. A handful of penalties were issued to both teams, but neither squad was able to turn the man-advantages into points. With just under 7 minutes to play in the period, Spencer King took a routine shot from the point from a pass from Isaac Grondin. The puck dinged the inside post and ricocheted off the Cape goalie and into the back of the net. This game was tied 1-1. Back-and-forth play continued for the remaining minutes. Besides the goal, one positive part of the Clippers’ performance in the 2nd was their ability to kill a bunch of unfortunate penalties. Their power-play performance, on the other hand, was lacking. The second period ends with the score locked at one a piece. Shots for the 2nd were Yarmouth with 7, Cape Elizabeth with 5.
The third period style of play seemed a bit more controlled or perhaps slower. One would assume the teams were getting tired. A bit of sloppy play in Yarmouth’s defensive zone coughed the puck up and onto a Cape stick and it didn’t take long for them to bury a shot past Watson. Just over 4 minutes into the 3rd and the Capers were back on top 2-1. From there, Yarmouth did its best to spark its offense, but was not having any luck. Four minutes later on a play that appeared to be off-sides to most people except the referees, Cape Elizabeth got a shot on net that wobbled its way through the legs of Watson. The bumbling rebound, with the help of everyone collapsing on the net, was deflected over the goal line. 3-1 Cape. Their lead was padded. The icing on the cake had been applied… or so you would think.
The Yarmouth Clippers, not known for giving up so easily (ice hockey or not) had work to do and not much time to accomplish it. Yarmouth soon found themselves with a man advantage as Cape served its 2 minute penalty in the box. With some great grind in the corners of the Cape zone, Oliver Prinn won the 50/50 battle and presented Aidan Miller with a lovely pass to the point area. Miller’s shot on net created the rebound that Truman Peters stuffed passed the Cape goaltender. An uncommon power-play goal for Yarmouth! With 3:26 left in the 3rd, the score was 3-2 and the boys in blue were not done.
More intense pressure by Yarmouth resulted in a penalty being called and put the Clippers in the box. Down by a goal. Down by a man. Yet, Yarmouth was not phased. They had the momentum, but was there enough time? With just under two minutes to play in regulation, senior Spencer King forechecked, alone deep into the Cape zone, overpowered their defense and brought the puck out from the corner, in front of the net and scored. The strong, individual effort of the determined Clipper single-handedly tied the game 3-3. The minutes left took a lifetime to click off the clock, but eventually did and after three periods the score remained tied, 3-3. Shots on net for the period were 6 for Yarmouth and 7 for Cape.
Next up, overtime.
Eight minutes set on the clock and a bench full of momentum had the Clippers eager to finish this great comeback with a victory. The extra period was filled with desperation and close chances for both teams. Yarmouth had a few closer chances, but still were unable to finish. It seemed as though Yarmouth would have to settle for a 3-3 tie as the last minute began its descent. And then, Isaac Grondin pushed a loose puck up toward Will Giese in the neutral zone. The chase was on as a Cape defender quickly confronted Giese as they entered the Cape zone. With just enough precision, Giese bumped the puck toward the center of the ice where a speedy Matthew Robichaud took over. With 41 seconds left on the clock, Robichaud made it look easy with a well-timed deke and a dagger into the left side of the net. Yarmouth wins 4-3.
Half of the Cross Insurance Arena stood ecstatic. The other half was shocked and silent as they departed.
Yarmouth hopes to continue their strong play against Mt. Ararat on Tuesday, February 11th at 6:45pm at the Sidney J. Watson Arena on the Bowdoin campus in Brunswick. We’ll see if the short rest will take its toll on the Yarmouth boys as they try to go for two wins in as many days.
Yarmouth Hockey 