Dom Chasse is on fire.
The Lewiston native finished the regular season with eight points (four goals and four assists) in the final five games and continued that Friday to start the USPHL’s National Collegiate Development Conference’s North Division playoffs. Chasse scored twice, including the game-winner for the Twin City Thunder in a 3-2, double-overtime win against the Junior Bruins in Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round series at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
Chasse’s game-clinching goal came just past the four-minute mark of the second overtime. Forward Matt Cole and defenseman Lucas Doran had the assists.
“The game-winner was a nice individual effort by (Chasse),” Thunder coach Dan Hodge said. “I think at the end of the game, both goalies were so tired. If the goalie (was well-rested), it probably doesn’t go in. It was a heck of a play to drive the net and get a shot on net.”
The goal was the Thunder’s sixth shot of the second overtime. The Jr. Bruins had two. The teams had 12 shots each in the first overtime.
Brody Haynes stopped 42 shots for the Thunder, while Colin Winn made 44 saves for the Jr. Bruins.
Chasse scored to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. Defensemen Bon Monson and Ryan Hintz had the assists.
Nearly 11 minutes into the opening period, Jude Brower scored for the Jr. Bruins to tie the game at 1-1.
The Thunder took a 2-1 lead when Nick Liotino scored and Sam Stitz had the lone assist 3:31 into the second period.
“Stitz made a great play coming around the goal line and he saw Liotino on the (weak) side with a hard pass across (the ice), and Liotino one-timed (the puck),” Hodge said. “It was a nice bang-bang play.”
Andrey Levushkin tied the game for the Jr. Bruins at the 15:19 mark of the second period.
After the Bruins outshot the Thunder 14-8 in the second period, the Thunder had the 9-4 advantage in shots in the third period.
“Colin Winn played great; he’s a great goaltender,” Hodge said. “We got a lot of shots on him, a lot of opportunities, but he seemed to be there to find the saves. He competes hard.”
Game 2 is Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at the New England Sports Center.
“Now you have to win one of two games,” Hodge said. “You want to get the job done, and hopefully we get the job done tomorrow.”
If needed, Game 3 is Sunday at 5:30 in Marlborough.
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