The nation’s best power play held a clinic at Brockport as Oswego took the first place title in the SUNYAC with a dominating 8-1 victory in the final day of regular season play. All but two of their goals were scored with the man advantage.
Oswego went six for twelve. However, when you look closer at the numbers, it’s even more impressive than that. One power play came with ten seconds left in the game. And due to the way a five minute major is calculated, especially when a penalty is called during that time, Oswego scored once but it was counted as three total opportunities. In essence, Oswego scored the first four times a penalty was called against Brockport.
Even more impressive was how quickly Oswego scored on many of their power plays. Four times, they scored in rapid fashion. Oswego scored six seconds, 13 seconds, 14 seconds, and 21 seconds after going on the power play. That’s how fast they move the puck around and get a high percentage shot off.
“We were better,” Oswego coach Ed Gosek said referring to the power play the night before against Geneseo. “We talked about making better decisions with it. Outnumbering them on loose pucks. Last night we didn’t do that. Just moving the puck quicker. Getting control first before looking for a shot. We had good puck movement. It’s good to get the confidence back on the power play.”
Ryan Woodward got things going first when he one-timed a quick centering pass into the open side of the net. This one came 14 seconds after the penalty was called.
Oswego made it 2-0 on an even quicker power play goal, six seconds after the face off. Once again a quick cross ice pass and a just as quick one-timer by Ryan Ellis found the open portion of the net.
It took till late in the first period before Oswego expanded their lead with one of their rare even strength goals. The result of hard work and hustle, Peter Magagna fought to get his own rebound, picked it up in front of the goal, and then with a crowd around him, skated around the goalie and scooped it into the unguarded net.
A late penalty enabled Oswego to make it 4-0, 13 seconds after the call. Rick Varone, who has been seeing a lot of action recently and rewarding the coach’s decision by producing, shot a perfect shot from the left faceoff circle that went into the opposite upper corner of the net, nicking the posts on the way in.
Oswego out shot Brockport in that first period, 12-4.
Magagna scored his second goal of the game 45 seconds into the second period. He went in alone after picking up the puck at the blueline, deked right, and flipped it over the right shoulder of the goalie.
Oswego made it 6-0 after Jason Dolgy got called for a major penalty for hitting from behind as well as a game misconduct. This time it took Oswego a little while to score, but score they did. Ryan Koresky’s slap shot from the point was deflected in by Tony DiNunzio.
Brockport got on the board with a power play of their own early in the third period, ruining Ryan Scott’s shutout. After Scott made a kick save, Greg Schwind put in the rebound on the near side.
Oswego wound up the scoring with two more power play goals. Ellis got his second of the night with another perfect shot from the right point that went just inside the near upper corner.
Lastly, Koresky’s slap shot from the blueline sailed up and into the net.
Despite the blowout, Greg Van’t Hof played well in net, making 26 saves. Scott got the win with 22 saves.
Brockport finishes their season at a disappointing 4-20-1 under first year interim coach, James Eccles. The Golden Eagles finished last in the SUNYAC at 1-13.
Oswego is just the opposite, taking first place with a 10-3-1 conference record, 18-5-2 overall. The Lakers rebounded from a loss to Geneseo the night before.
“I was happy with our attitude,” Gosek said. “It would have been very easy to dwell on last night. I’m happy for our seniors.”
Oswego gets a bye for the first round and waits to see who they will host after the play-in round is completed.
