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  Salem struck first blood 3:50 into the first period when junior forward Matt Downey banked in a shot off the back of Canton goalie Max Sexton's skate. Austin Sartorius assisted.

  The Chiefs evened the showdown with 9:03 left in the first period when AJ Rosales lit the lamp with a well-placed wrister from in front of the net. Riley Hoernschmeyer and Taylor Baker notched assists.

  Canton carried a 2-1 advantage into the first intermission thanks to a goal from Jordan Smith, who snapped a rebound into the net from a few feet in front of the crease. Jimmy LaFontaine and Kyle Korte assisted.

  The Rocks exploded out of the gate in the second period, scoring a pair of goals in he first 1:21 to grab a 3-2 lead. Mario Macari scored the equalizer 27 seconds in off an assist from Josh Jarvela, who was dangerous all night.

  Salem grabbed a 3-2 lead 54 seconds later when Ryan Quigley controlled a pass from Steve Haburne at mid-ice, outraced the Canton defense past the blue line and unleashed a rising shot past Sexton.

  Macari found the net again 55 seconds later, but the goal was wiped out as Salem had been whistled for a penalty.

  Sexton made a pair of slick saves five minutes into the period, robbing Macari and Jarvela from up close.

  Canton knotted the game at 3-all late in the second period when Korte blistered a shot from just inside the blue line to cap a successful power-play opportunity. He was assisted by Rosales.

  Salem nearly regained the lead two minutes into the third period when Kurt Driscoll broke free and whistled a shot from 20 feet out that sailed just wide. Jarvela's hustled after the rebound and fired a put-back from just outside the right circle, but the puck dinged the right post.

  The near-misses were forgotten after Hull buried his golden chance from 15 feet out that Sexton touched with his glove, but couldn't quite corral.

  "Overall, I thought we played pretty well," said Ossenmacher. "We had some good opportunities to score that we didn't capitalize on, but considering this was just our second game of the season, you expect some inconsistencies.

  "We had moments that we played really well and other times when we were out of position."

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com