Bruins Edge Hotchkiss on Late Goal

Brunswick put an uninspired first period behind them and came on strong in the second and third to gut out a 2-1 win against Hotchkiss on Monday evening at Hartong Rink. 

The Bearcats are a pesky and very competitive group -- despite having only 16 skaters in the lineup -- and outshot the Bruins 10-7 in the opening frame, ultimately taking a 1-0 lead to the intermission after converting a 2 v 1 rush opportunity. 

Not much was said in the locker room, but the Bruins looked like a different squad in the second and generated quality chance after quality chance before finally burying one with seven minutes to go. Senior James Shannon was the recipient of a deft behind-the-back pass from junior linemate-at-the-time Brendan Giles, who won a puck behind the net before finding the co-captain wide open for an easy finish. 1-1 after two. 

In the third, it was anyone's game -- and the shots ended up deadlocked at 11 for each team (36-30 for the game in favor of 'Wick) -- but the Bruins went ahead with 2:23 to play on junior Drew DellaSalla's streaking deflection that found the twine on the top of the net before caroming back into play. The refs and those in "Burdett Row" were on the scene and called it a goal right off the bat -- 2-1 Bruins. 

A few missed opportunities at the empty net and a 'Wick penalty made things interesting in the final two minutes -- but the Bruins hung on for the key league victory. 

Senior co-captain Brendan Holahan had another strong outing with 29 saves from his spot in the blue paint. 

At Millbrook next on Wednesday.