Acton-Boxborough Completes Comeback 3-2 in OT against Concord-Carlisle

Boxborough, MA – Neutral Zone was in attendance virtually via LiveBarn to watch Acton-Boxborough play host to Concord-Carlisle at the Nashoba Valley Olympia on Wednesday night. This rivalry game which is typically played in front of a packed house, was played in front of a handful of spectators spread out throughout the rink. The game was fast paced and was a tightly contested affair that would need an extra 5 minutes to decide. CC jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before the end of the first period. Derek Duplessis scored on a shot from the high slot midway through the frame. CC would score in the final minute of the period and would head to the locker room in control.

The second period was a back and forth period with both teams registering some chances. No one was able to break through and the game would head to the final frame with CC ahead 2-0.

AB came out in the third with more purpose and got one back on a shot from the point from Graham Brady. The puck may or may not have been tipped before beating Clark Stephenson. With about three minutes left to play AB would tie the game on the power play. Ethan Zhong took the puck on the right side of the umbrella and ripped a shot by the goalie to knot the game at 2. There were several good chances, including an AB breakaway in the last minute of the game, but the game would head to four-on-four OT.Β 

AB controlled most of the play in the extra session and was finally able to break through when Matt Welch stole the puck in the offensive zone and cut to the net. He crashed the net and created a rebound where Andrew Welch was able to gather the puck quickly and snap it by the goalie to complete the come-from-behind win.

These two teams will meet again on Saturday at the Edge Sports Center at 6:50pm.

Three Stars:

  1. D Andrew Welch, Acton-Boxborough
  2. D Graham Brady, Acton-Boxborough
  3. F Derek Duplessis, Concord-Carlisle

NZ Notes

The game was tightly contested for the entirety of the night with each team creating several scoring chances. Both goalies were solid and kept rebounds to a minimum. CC was opportunistic in the first period and then ran out of steam late. This AB team is deep and was able to keep a sustained forecheck on the CC defensemen.Β 

For the home team, Graham Brady controls the game from the back end. He is smooth with the puck and knows where he is going with it before it gets to him. He retrieves pucks well and makes a strong first pass to easily escape his zone. He was strong through the middle of the ice and forced forwards to the perimeter of the rink. He was also able to chip in offensively and looks to jump into the play to create additional options. Matt Welch is an athletic skater that has a bit of a choppy stride but can get where he is going quickly. He was fast in on the forecheck and forced defenders into bad decisions. He drives the puck wide and can shoot quickly in-stride. Ethan Zhong had a strong night. He is used in a lot of situations and has a quick release and shoots to corners. He finds soft space on the ice in the offensive zone which allows him space to work with the puck.

For the visitors, Conor Trant is the captain and is used in all situations. He has a high motor and compete level and hounds the puck. He created turnovers and was always around the puck in each zone. He made some nice reads in tight spaces through the middle of the ice to create line-rushes and positive scoring chances. He got the puck to the net and kept it simple in the offensive zone. Derek Duplessis is a big strong winger that gets up and down the ice well. He drives the wing and gets to the net to jump on rebounds. Noah Rosado is an athletic defender that moves around on the blue line well. He has good quick feet and activates to walk the line seamlessly. He threads pucks to the net through traffic for tips. He was strong in his own zone and defends with his feet.Β Β