WEST SPRINGFIELD — It was a perfect storm for the Greenfield hockey team Thursday night.
Playing their first game in 15 days, on the road against one of the toughest independent foes on their schedule, the Green Wave fell behind just 22 seconds into the first period against Longmeadow. Behind the eight-ball almost immediately did not serve Greenfield well, as the visitors dropped their first game of 2022, 4-1, at Olympia Ice Center.
“Longmeadow played a fantastic game and took advantage of their opportunities,” Greenfield coach Adam Bouchard said. “I thought that was the difference in the game. We had opportunities but didn’t capitalize. I thought our effort was really good but our execution didn’t quite match that effort.”
Longmeadow (4-2), which won its fourth game in a row after an 0-2 start, pounced on Greenfield just 22 seconds into regulation. Captain Robby Croteau ripped a shot from the point over the shoulder of Wave goalie Josh Bordeaux, tickling the back of the net for the quick 1-0 advantage.
“Obviously you never want to go down in the first 30 seconds of a game, particularly to a team the caliber of Longmeadow,” Bouchard admitted. “You don’t want to do that again anyone, but you really dig a hole having it happen against them. It was a defensive zone breakdown and all of a sudden it’s 1-0.”
Greenfield (3-3) looked like it might have an equalizer less than a minute later, as Longmeadow goalie Connor Rintoul failed to keep control of a loose puck that he aimed to freeze. Sam Knight was waiting on the doorstep and poked the sliding puck into an open net, but the officials ruled they had already blown the play dead to negate the tally.
The Lancers doubled their advantage with 5:28 remaining in the opening frame, this time thanks to a bit of puck luck. Freshman Michael Poggi sent a harmless pass from behind the net out in front, and while there were no Longmeadow teammates in sight, the biscuit did manage to find Bordeaux’s feet, and the junior netminder accidentally kicked it behind him into the goal to make it 2-0.
A major penalty called on Longmeadow for a hit from behind gave the Wave a chance to get right back in it just 26 seconds later, and while the visitors put several good chances on Rintoul, including a pair on the doorstep from freshman Matt Garvin, the Lancers managed to escape the five-minute penalty unscathed and head into the dressing room with the two-goal cushion.
Greenfield got its sea legs in the middle period, and Bordeaux came through with a plethora of clutch saves to let the Wave hang around. The defending state champions finally cashed in for the first time all night with the seconds ticking away in the frame, taking advantage of their second power play of the contest.
Senior defenseman Kevin Baumann delivered the strike, as his shot through traffic deflected off a Longmeadow stick and found nylon for his third goal of the season to cut the deficit to 2-1 with just 14 seconds left in the second. Shane Prusak and Eathon Bryant picked up the assists.
Bordeaux came through with two more huge saves in the third period to keep it a one-goal game, but the Lancers finally broke through with an insurance marker with 6:35 to play. Nick Medeiros was credited with the goal, as Longmeadow had three cracks right in front of the net before finally sticking one past a sprawling Bordeaux.
Just over two minutes later, Ian Jarosz put it away with a shot from the point to give the hosts a 4-1 cushion.
Longmeadow held a 38-25 edge in shots on goal, with Bordeaux coming through with 34 saves in an impressive effort between the pipes.
“I thought Josh played a really solid game,” Bouchard lauded. “He stood on his head at times in the second period to give us a chance in the third.”
Greenfield won’t have to wait long to get back out on the ice, as a Wright Division home game against Southwick (1-4) awaits on Saturday night at Collins-Moylan Arena (6:30 p.m.). After a difficult run of independent games, the Wave will now play three straight against league foes.
“This is one of the most difficult schedules we’ve played in a long, long time. Definitely as long as I’ve been here,” said Bouchard. “We’re a third of the way through now, let’s see how they respond and adjust moving forward here.”