A scrum developed in front of the Salem net with 20.4 seconds left in Monday's pre-Regional game. (photo by Ed Wright)

Border Battle

Wildcats advance following thrilling do-or-die 4-3 victory over Salem

BY ED WRIGHT
March. 1 2010, 11:55 p.m.

  Momentum flew around the  Eddie Edgar Arena ice surface faster than the  puck during the first two periods of Monday night's pre-Regional hockey game between PCEP neighbors Plymouth and Salem.

  In a thrill-a-minute, back-and-forth contest that featured a super-amped-up intensity level, the Wildcats survived with a 4-3 victory that propelled them into Wednesday night's second-round showdown against Livonia Stevenson, the No. 2-ranked team in Division 1.

  Plymouth, which improved to 19-5-1, is ranked No. 7 in the Division 1 polls.

  The 'Cats built an early 3-1 advantage before the Rocks stormed back to deadlock the game at 3-all.

  However, Pat Smiatacz's hard-earned, unassisted goal late in the second period proved to be the game winner for coach Paul Fassbender's squad.

  Smiatacz controlled the puck along the boards, steered it through traffic to the mid-point of the circles, then lifted a shot over the outstretched glove of Salem goalie Steven Manser.

  After the puck settled into the back of the net, Smiatacz acknowledged the large Plymouth student cheering section by skating in their direction and performing a perfectly executed body slam against the boards.

  "It was fitting that he scored the big goal because he took a penalty that hurt us earlier," said Plymouth coach Paul Fassbender. "It was nice to see him work that hard to make up for it.

  "A lot of guys played well tonight. I thought Taylor Currier had a very good game. All of our defensemen played well tonight."

  Both goalies -- Manser and Plymouth's Michael Justus -- were lights out during the scoreless third period. Justus was especially busy, thwarting a number of high-pressure scoring chances that the Rocks put together.

  "I thought we played very well tonight; I don't know if we could have played much better," said Salem coach Ryan Ossenmacher. "We out-shot them and out-chanced them. The puck just didn't go our way.

  "Give Plymouth credit, though. They're a very good hockey team."

  Playing before a rambunctious crowd, the Wildcats struck first blood when Currier ripped a shot past Manser 2:55 into the contest.

  Salem answered just under two minutes later on Josh Jarvela's goal from Garrett Berg.

  The Wildcats carried a 3-1 advantage into the first intermission thanks to goals from Tyler Sanders (from Ryan Renault and Evan Swieczkowski) and Nick Schultz, who received assists from Currier and Ryan Bauer.

  The Rocks retaliated in a big way mid-way through the second period. With 7:37 left, Salem capped a successful power play when Kurt Driscoll controlled a dead-on pass from Nick Hayes and directed the puck past Justus to close its deficit to 3-2.

  Less than three minutes later, the Rocks drew even when Mario Macari found the net from in front. Josh Jarvela and Driscoll picked up assists.

  But just when it looked like the two teams would enter the locker room for the second intermission deadlocked, Smiatacz popped home what may prove to be one of his biggest goals of the season.

  "At the end of the game, we found a way to win," said Fassbender. "We won the last five face-offs toward the end of the game and they were going down and blocking shots, which is something that we haven't been doing lately."

  The puck stayed in the Salem zone for a large chunk of the third period, but Justus came up big on a number of occasions. The Wildcats' defensive corps of Currier, Evan Swieczkowski, Tyler Lazorka and Justin Bauer also played well during crunch-time.

  Salem's season-ending 12-10-3 record was better than it looked considering the Rocks played a brutally tough schedule.

  "Eight of our losses came against teams that are ranked in the state," said Ossenmacher. "We lost our last four games, but all four of the teams we lost to could be playing at Compuware in a couple of weeks.

  "We decided before this season that we were going to play a competitive schedule and I think by doing so, it made us a better team.

  "The comeback we had tonight was typical of the guys on this team. They've worked hard all season, both on the ice and off. If the game would have been five minutes longer, I would have liked our chances."

  Wednesday's game against Stevenson (7:15 p.m. at Eddie Edgar Arena) will be a rematch of the Spartans' narrow 3-2 victory over the 'Cats on Dec. 16.