Matt Caron notched four goals in a decisive, 7-0 Red Storm victory over Massabesic/Old Orchard Beach/Bonny Eagle (a.k.a. the MOB) on Tuesday night, Feb. 23. For their part, however, the MOB played some of their best hockey of the season.

The MOB’s schedule wasn’t loaded with Tier 1 teams this season; their toughest opponent was perhaps Thornton.

“We’ve worked on some stuff. From where we were [versus TA] to now, they’ve improved a lot,” said head coach Loren Blair.

It’s an understatement to say the Red Storm were “heavily favored” over the MOB. Scarborough, the reigning State Champs, entered the playoffs ranked first in A South, at 13-2-3, while the MOB barely squeaked into the bracketing on a 9-9 record and some fortuitous losses by other teams.

But it’s also an understatement to say the MOB “did a good job” against the category fivers from SHS – especially in the first period. Scarborough applied somewhere between 2 and 10 tons of pressure in that stretch, controlling the attack almost exclusively and peppering MOB keeper Kyle McKay mercilessly with pucks – but the MOB, in the truest spirit of nothing-to-lose competition, stood staunch the entire time.

As the game went on, however, Scarborough pulled away. Scarborough is on top for a reason, after all: They’re talented and experienced and generally pretty disciplined, and in the end they simply overmatched the MOB, a program that shows great promise, but is still developing.

Cam Smith kicked off the scoring early in the second, assisted by Eric Murray and Skylar Pettingill. Smith cut through the left side of the MOB zone and whipped off a tumbling backhand that arced over McKay’s shoulder, behind him, and in. 1-0.

Caron hashed his first point of the night two minutes later, when Jack Callahan, wide-right out front of McKay, dished across wide-left, where Caron pulled the trigger on a slick one-timer. 2-0.

The MOB did manage a few forays on the attack, and they tallied a couple more solid chances when Stormer Justin Perry handed them a powerplay. Perry earned an ill-advised roughing penalty by clubbing MOBster Tanner McClure when McClure was already on the ice and the whistle had already blown. But Scarborough netminder Ross LeBlond proved himself when called upon, and the Storm maintained their shutout.

“We played well. End of the second, we had our chances to score,” Blair said. “We’ve got to capitalize on that.”

Caron added his second goal with 2:09 to play in the second period (assist to Cam Nigro) and his third a minute and a half later (unassisted).

Whether discouraged or simply tuckered out, the MOB’s fire eventually started to wane, a fact Scarborough took full advantage of. Caron from Nigro made it 5-0 at the start of the third; Eric Murray, unassisted, made it 6-0 shortly thereafter; and Nigro from Anthony Burnham capped the evening at 7-0 midway through the period.

That’s a lopsided score, for sure, but McKay deserves a mountain of accolades for his performance nevertheless: He faced upwards of 50 shots.

“Kyle played unbelievable in the first period,” Blair said. “Best game of the season.”

The MOB, Blair attested, was happy with its season, despite the loss.

“We’re very happy,” he said. “We got our goal, we made the playoffs. Wish we could’ve put some more shots on the net, but hey, these are the defending State Champs for a reason. I’m happy.”

The quarterfinals bout unfolded on the Storm’s home ice, MHG Arena in Saco.

MOBster AJ Cates collides along the boards with Scarborough’s Skylar Pettingill.Bonny Eagle freshman Brandon Caron locks up with a Scarborough opponent on the attack Tuesday night.The MOB’s Tanner McClure harangues Red Stormer Matt Caron.