Hill-Murray Pioneer Hockey: Game 2009-02-28

First Period
No Scoring

Second Period
No Scoring

Third Period
HM, Tyler Zepeda (Jack Walsh, Ben Bahe), 3:49.
HM, Chris Casto (Jordan Johnson), 4:15 (pp).
HM, Jordan Johnson (J.D. Cotroneo, Jeff Westerhaus), 6:28 (pp).
NSP, Joe Rubbelke (Chris Czech, Zac McCarver), 10:21 (pp).

Shots by period
Hill-Murray	8	15	11	-	34
North St. Paul	9	6	11	-	26

Goalies Minutes GA Saves Result
HM - Tim Shaughnessy 51 1 25 W
NSP - Peter Toy 50 3 31 L

Power Plays Goals Attempts Time
Hill-Murray 2 6 6:35
North St. Paul 1 4 5:11

Hill-Murray survived a gritty challenge from North St. Paul for two periods, then erupted for three goals in three minutes early in the third period. Tim Shaughnessy was sharp in the Pioneer nets throughout a mostly tense game, beaten only once by Joe Rubbelke's power play goal late in the third period.

The first period was evenly played but most of the action was around the North net in the second. The Polars appeared content to play effective defense and hoped to steal an upset with a lucky break. But the only lucky breaks they were getting were near their own net as Hill-Murray sent more and more pucks through the crease but couldn't get a stick on them, and Tyler Zepeda's shot bounced off the post and sat in the goal crease without further incident.

Zepeda didn't miss on a 3-on-2 in the third period, taking Jack Walsh's pass and wristing a shot just inside the post from 20 feet. North St. Paul lost focus immediately after the goal and took two unnecessary penalties away from the play, which the Pioneer power play, 0 for 4 in the first two periods, turned into a quick pair of goals. Chris Casto scored on a long shot through traffic at 4:15, and Jordan Johnson sent a 60 foot bullet straight into the back of the net at 6:28.

Rubbelke was North's most dangerous offensive force and spoiled the shutout with a power play goal of his own, stickhandling in from the blue line and wristing a shot from between the circles. The Polars made a frantic effort in the final minute with an extra attacker, but Shaughnessy punctuated the win with a fabulous save on a one-timer in the waning seconds. That marked the second year in row that Hill-Murray has ended North St. Paul's season, a feat they will try to pull again next week against either White Bear Lake or Mounds View.