BIDDEFORD — Nothing was settled by Saturday’s 3-3 overtime tie between Thornton Academy and Falmouth in boys hockey action at Biddeford Ice Arena.
Nothing, perhaps, except that a rematch, should one happen in the playoffs, would be a dandy.
Still, it would be hard pressed to match this one for intensity and momentum swings, not to mention drama.
Falmouth’s Kris Samaras netted the game tying goal with 1:03 left in regulation, and in the process blunted a rousing rally by Thornton midway through the third period.
“It was more of a fan game than a player game,” said Thornton senior defenseman Tyler Danley. “But it was good for us to have a game like that.”
Having outscored their last four opponents by a whopping 32-4 margin, the Golden Trojans may have needed a dose of stiff competition.
They certainly received one from the Yachtsmen (5-3-1), who handed Thornton (8-1-1) its only loss of the season a month ago.
“It was a chance to get a little bit of redemption,” said Danley.
Falmouth stormed out of the gate, but were held at bay by Thornton goalie Joe Ferrante, who made several key stops.
Two of those came on Falmouth breakaways.
“They (the Yachtsmen) came out strong, we came out flat,” said Thornton coach Jamie Gagnon. “It was 0-0 at the end of the first period, but it could just as easily have been 5-0. Joe kept us in the game.”
Thornton found itself trailing 2-1 after the second period, after sandwiching Bryan Dallaire’s goal in between scores by Samaras and Ben Freeman.
Dallaire’s came at 3:43 on a blue-line blast through a screen.
Samaras replied at 6:30, however, giving Falmouth a lead that it kept until C.J. Maksut tied the game again at 6:26 when he was one of several Trojans who chopped at a loose puck in front of Falmouth goalie Dane Pauls.
It was the 75th goal of Maksut’s career, extending his own school record.
Less than two minutes later, Andrew Carignan gave Thornton its lone lead with a wrister from the slot.
“The second and third period, we started to get our legs,” said Danley, who assisted on Maksut’s goal. “Then we started burying a few.”
Before Thornton could seal the win, Samaras threw the game back into a deadlock, when, on a two-on-one breakaway, he deposited a five-foot shot just under the crossbar.
The Trojans outshot Falmouth 7-3 in the eight-minute overtime, and were successful in killing off one penalty.
Maksut had a chance to play the hero in the waning seconds, when he snuck to the right and took a pass from Nick Chen.
Maksut, however, was denied when the puck hopped over his stick, leaving the matter of full revenge until later, if ever.
“I have no doubt that they (the Yachtsmen) will be there at the end,” said Gagnon. “We’ll certainly do whatever we can to compete again.”
Thornton will resume action on Saturday when St. Dom’s will visit.
— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535.
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