PI holding claim on fifth and final playoff spot
Sports Reporter
Heading into their Feb. 12 home game against John Bapst, Presque Isle hockey coach Carl Flynn decided to put the team in playoff mode for the Wildcats’ final three games.
So far, so good for the ’Cats, who defeated the Crusaders and then on Saturday avenged an early-season home loss with a 7-3 victory over Hampden.
With their regular season set to close Tuesday night with a home game against Brewer, the 8-9 Wildcats are in decent position to claim Eastern Maine Class B’s fifth and final playoff spot.
Presque Isle is currently 6/10ths of a point ahead of John Bapst (6-12) for that final slot. The Crusaders do not play another regular season game. An upset victory over the No. 1-ranked and undefeated Witches last night would have guaranteed PI a position, otherwise it will come down to Heal Points “helper points” (which result in victories by teams you have already beaten). Despite the complicity, Flynn said it appears PI has enough to edge out Bapst in that regard.
The final rankings will be released after the final games are played. The last day for playable games was Tuesday.
“It really came down to our previous ‘big game’ and playoff experience,” Flynn said of the late-season surge. “We approached each of our last three games as though they were playoff games.”
The Wildcats have responded, including Saturday’s road win over the Broncos. In that game, PI bolted to a 4-0 lead, including a goal by sophomore forward Adam Flynn 30 seconds in. Isaac LaJoie, the team’s top goal scorer entering the contest, proceeded to put five into the net himself the rest of the way. Three were scored in the first two periods and the others were of the empty-net variety over the final three minutes.
Tyler Seeley scored the other Wildcat goal, also on an empty-netter. Connor Shaw had three assists, while LaJoie, Jacob Buck and Flynn added one apiece.
Meanwhile, goalie Josh MacFarline “made some big saves and the defense kept Hampden to the outside and played the body and not the puck,” according to the coach.
MacFarline had 30 saves in goal for the Wildcats, who outshot the Broncs, 39-33.
The game was a microcosm of the season with regards to the scoring by Lajoie, Shaw and Flynn, who combined to register 10 points.
“Since we put them together mid season, they have done the bulk of our scoring, averaging in excess of five points per game,” said coach Flynn. “Each has had a stand-out game or two, all have been unselfish with the puck, and all three are back next year.”
Heading into the regular season finale, Lajoie has scored 27 goals and 13 assists for 40 points, while Shaw has 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points and Flynn eight goals and a team-high 21 assists for 29 points.
The only other PI players in double figures in points for the season are Jacob Buck with 15 and Seeley with 13.
