Written by: Rory McGouran
Photo: Patrick Garriepy
Strapping itself into a roller-coaster of every emotional change possible, the Northeast Generals prevailed on Friday night’s Game 4 of the Eastern Division Semi Finals, keeping their season alive and defeating the Rochester Jr Americans 4-3.
The feeling of Friday’s action was almost broken into two vastly different styles of playoff hockey. The first 40 minutes were tense, tightly contested, low scoring, and smothering, with the Generals’ Rob Savaglio scoring the lone goal and securing a 1-0 lead heading into the third.
The third period turned into a complete track meet. Four goals, alternated by the two teams, were scored in a span of 3:40.
Logan Poulin scored his 4th goal of the playoffs to give the Generals a 2-0 lead, netting his 3rd power-play goal, which is tied for the league lead in the postseason.
Rochester’s Adam Gionta cut the lead to 2-1, but that was quickly countered by Andrew Gibbons just 1:22 later to regain the two-goal lead.
The Jr. Americans continued to find more pressure in the Generals’ zone through the middle of the third period and tied the game at 3-3 with goals from Konnor Powell and Gionta’s second. The 5 goals to create the 3-3 deadlock were all scored in under 8 minutes.
Another emotional swing took place when Vinny Ipri appeared to score for a 4-3 lead on the power-play. However, a goal review led to it being overturned as it was deemed the net was knocked off before the puck crossed the line.
The Generals’ resiliency prevailed, as 20 seconds into the ensuing shift, Beckett Hinchsliff added another power play, which stood as the game winner.
Will Mizenko picked up his 4th playoff win, stopping 26 of 29. Rochester’s Florian Wade allowed 4 goals on 25 shots in the loss.
The Generals’ power play went on 2/5.
Following Friday’s win, the Generals have now won four straight elimination games this postseason and have forced a winner-take-all Game 5 back in Rochester on Sunday night. The winner will advance to the East Division Finals to face the Maryland Black Bears.