PITTSTON TWP. — Wyoming Area’s league-leading power play put the Warriors ahead in the second period of Sunday’s Northeast Pennsylvania Scholastic Hockey League first-place showdown.
When that same power play was unable to capitalize later in the period, it opened the door for Susquehanna to rally for a 5-2 victory at the Revolution Ice Centre.
Susquehanna held on to sole possession of the league lead, improving to 10-1. Wyoming Area, which had its eight-game winning streak snapped in a 6-6 tie with Wyoming Valley West in its previous game, had its nine-game unbeaten streak broken while falling to 8-2-1.
The Warriors dominated the early stages of the second period and took a 2-1 lead on power-play goals 58 seconds apart.
A five-minute power play in the middle of the period produced six shots, but no goals.
“When we didn’t score on that one, it kind of sealed our fate,” Wyoming Area coach Bill Weiss said.
The Warriors were still ahead at that time, but they missed a chance to pad their lead and let a significant amount of momentum get away.
After being outshot, 9-4, while falling behind by a goal in the first period, Wyoming Area outshot Susquehanna, 16-0, for the first 9:26 of the second period.
Brendan Lee assisted the first goal, then scored the second.
Seven seconds after putting Wyoming Area ahead, Lee broke in off a faceoff win, only to be stopped on a clutch save by Suquehanna goalie Mike Novatnak.
When Lee was clobbered from behind just 13 seconds later, he crashed head-first into the boards and Susquehanna’s Dylan Harry was done for the night on a boarding major and game misconduct.
Lee needed to be helped back to the bench. He returned to the ice before the power play was over, but was less effective than he had been earlier.
Already playing without third-leading scorer Alex Hawk because of a one-game suspension, Wyoming Area finished up with Lee, its second-leading scorer, at less than full strength.
“It was a battle for first place,” Weiss said. “We beat them the first time.
“Hopefully, we’ll see them again.”
For a few minutes, Wyoming Area showed the ability to control both ends of the ice whether on the power play or at even strength.
Alex Chronowski, the leading scorer on a team that earlier this season captured the Casey Classic title, broke down the right side and sent a puck in front to Lee racing down the slot.
Lee drew a delayed penalty, but his shot went wide. Chronowski retrieved the puck behind the net, skated out and backhanded a puck top shelf to tie the score.
Because Susquehanna already had one player in the penalty box, the additional penalty Lee drew gave Wyoming Area a new power play.
Hovatnak held on to a Caleb Travis shot, but Lee scored on a quick shot off the ensuing faceoff for a 2-1 lead.
Preston Shearer had a goal in each period to produce a hat trick for Susquehanna, which is made up of players from the Sunbury area. He tied the game on a power-play goal with 1:11 left in the second period.
“Hopefully, we learned from this that you’ve got to put pressure on the net,” Weiss said. “(Hovatnak) did a great job, but he was leaving rebounds out there.
“We just didn’t get to them.”
Susquehanna 5, Wyoming Area 2
Susquehanna`1`1`3`—`5
Wyoming Area`0`2`0`—`2
First period — 1. S, Preston Shearer (Josh Nylund) 3:50.
Second period — 2. WA, Alex Chronowski (Brendan Lee) 3:22 power play; 3. WA, Lee (Connor Spudis) 4:20 power play; 4. S, Shearer (Avery Pruden) 14:49 power play.
Third period – 5. S, Gabe Darragh 1:27; 6. S, Shearer (Jack Marrara) 11:01; S. 7, Darragh (Brian Snyder, Pruden) 12:30.
Shots on goal – S 24, WA 25. Goalies, saves — S, (Mike Novatnak 23). WA (Jacob Urban) 19. Penalties – S 5 for 21 minutes; WA 2 for 4 minutes. Power plays – S 1-for-2; WA 2-for-4.
