The Rockets Hockey Club has the second-best power play in the USPHL’s National Collegiate Development Conference, and it was the difference Saturday morning against the Twin City Thunder.
Two power-power play goals lifted the Rockets to a 3-2 win over the Thunder at the Presidents Day Showcase at the Foxboro Sports Center in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
Thunder (20-16-5, 45 points) coach Dan Hodge said it was a well-played game by both teams, and the Thunder were just on the wrong side of the outcome.
“We said it in the locker room, we beat them 2-1, 5-on-5 and they beat us 2-0 on the power play,” Hodge said. “It was a good game, competitive, and they are one of the best teams in the league. We are trying to get (to be a top team in the league).”
Kevin Fitzgerald gave Rockets HC (23-14-5) a 1-0 lead in the second period with a power-play goal 6:23 into the frame. Johnny Wescoe recorded his 40th assist of the season, and Cole Vallese notched his 20th of the year.
Cade Baker scored with under four minutes remaining in the second period to extend the lead to 2-0.
Thunder forward Steven Armstrong scored with 81 seconds left in the second period to cut Rockets HC’s lead in half. Defenseman Jack Anderson set the goal up with an assist.
“You are down 2-0, the game wasn’t getting out of hand, but feeling it was getting away from us a little bit,” Hodge said. “(Armstrong) scoring that goal from a nice pass from Anderson, and (Armstrong) made a nice move (for the goal).”
Midway through the third period, Wescoe scored a power-play goal to extend the Rockets’ lead to 3-1.
The Rockets’ power play is converting at a 26.2% clip for the season.
Hodge said it was difficult to game-plan against the Rockets while playing three showcase games in three days.
“It’s tough, you don’t know them, and you don’t really see them,” Hodge said. “You have to go with the unknown and I watched them a little bit yesterday when they played the Islanders Hockey Club. You take bits and pieces (from what you saw), talk to coaches that played them before to try to get some information. But at the end of the day, it’s tough, going up against a team you haven’t seen since September.”
The Thunder made one final push in the final minute of the game, with Matt Cole scoring his seventh goal of the year to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Geno Pichora made 25 saves in the win. Dane Couture stopped 23 shots for the Thunder.
The Thunder return to Foxboro on Thursday and Friday to face the South Shore Kings. Both games start at noon.
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