BRIGHTON – Xaverian boys hockey coach Dave Spinale shook up the lines a bit late last week in search of more balanced scoring.
With goals from three different lines Wednesday night in a 3-0 Catholic Conference win over No. 5 Catholic Memorial, it’s safe to say those changes have clicked for the No. 11 Hawks (7-4-1) as winners of three straight.
Michael Bulkin also kept up his impressive play in net with a 35-save shutout, backing Xaverian in a 4-1-1 stretch since losing to the Knights (8-5) in their first matchup.
“We’re hopefully finding a way to get more battle tested every week,” Spinale said. “This gives us confidence, these games are important. Hopefully it helps us get the confidence that – when we’re playing those games in March – it gives us the confidence that we can play with anybody.”
All four lines skated well for the Hawks, and it was even the fourth that got momentum rolling.
With about four minutes left in the first period, Charlie Comerford, Ryan Guevremont and Braden Pinkham applied pressure in CM’s zone and helped maintain it for about two shots on Knights goalie Jaxson Fleming (26 saves). Shortly after, Jackson Morse came on with Devin Gosciak and new linemate James Duggan, and potted a 1-0 lead despite shooting from a tough angle just above the goal line.
Xaverian dominated play the rest of the period, and the second line took its turn to score less than two minutes into the second. Freshman James Johnson gained the zone on the right wing for a 2-on-1 with his new linemates, crossed it to Daniel Gentile inside the left dot, and he dumped it to Ryan Bello trailing down the slot for the goal. Then, with 7:40 left in the frame, Joe Van Handorf grabbed a rebound by the right circle and fed new linemate Max LaRosa in the slot for a 3-0 lead.
“The balanced scoring is really helping us,” Spinale said. “Just trying to get more pucks to the net and not be as cute as we usually like to be. We’re getting gritty goals and I think we’re battling really hard. I’m really proud of the effort, and we’re taking care of the D-zone.”
Morse’s goal ended up being the only one Xaverian needed, though not comfortably.
Much of the second period saw CM pepper Bulkin, aided by a power play it used to generate four shots on him. Bulkin was nails with 17 saves in the frame.
Blueliners Nate Patch, Caden Johnson, Liam Doherty, Michael McCormack and Justin Mosher neutralized a lot in front of Bulkin, but Catholic Memorial still generated several promising looks. Bulkin took care of the rest.
“I’m feeling good,” Bulkin said of his play. “The team in front of me is kind of doing it all for me. They’re getting pucks out, they’re getting a lot of shots on their net, (and) our defense has stepped up, for sure. I’m just doing my part, doing my job.”
Xaverian stays within reach of the Catholic Conference title. Catholic Memorial drops to second in the standings (4-2), while St. John’s Prep (7-4, 5-1) holds onto the top spot. The Hawks are third (3-2-1), but have the momentum to make a run after also beating SJP on Sunday in a game Bulkin recorded 43 saves.
“It’s definitely ramped up,” Bulkin said. “We had a team meeting before we played St. John’s Prep, and I think that really helped the team come together and battle it out these last couple games.”