Medford Ice Rink Youth Ice Hockey:
Bruins Come From Behind To Defeat Panthers

Sunday, January 18, 1998

By Scot Williams
SJSports Staff Writer

The Medford Ice Rink Bruins overcame 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to defeat the Panthers 3-2. A late third period goal by Colin Murphy (#8) proved to be the game winner.

This mid-season match up featured strong defensive efforts by both teams and spectacular goaltending. Bruins goaltender Bryan Williams stopped 18 shots while Frank Jablonski was called on to make 22 saves for the Panthers.

The Panthers scored the first goal of the game on a 2-1 break. The initial shot was saved by Williams, but the puck slide across the crease to an open Panther who poked the puck in to make the score 1-0 with 3:53 gone in the first period. The Panthers continued to pressure for the remainder of the period, but could not score. The Bruins defense, led by Shawn Zahaczewski (#96), prevented the Panthers from capitalizing on 2 first period power plays.

The second period belonged to the Bruins offense. Panther goaltender Frank Jablonski turned away numerous Bruin shots from in close. Mike Archer (#25) finally put one past Jablonski to tie the game midway through the period 1-1. The score remained even for the remainder of the period.

The Panthers came out strong in the third period and took the lead on another 2-1 break. This time Williams was beaten to the stick side in close. This put the Panthers on top 2-1 with 9:52 remaining in the third period. The Bruins continued to press, but Jablonski was stopping every chance. He stoned the Bruins forwards on two breakaways and another breakaway shot just went wide. It was beginning to look like there was a lid on the Panther net.

With 6:03 remaining in the game, Zahaczewski scored to tie the game. Three minutes late Murphy scored to give the Bruins the lead. The Panthers continued to pressure the remainder of the game, but could not score. Final score, Bruins 3 - Panther 2.

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