WEST SPRINGFIELD — Three periods didn’t decide the result for the Greenfield hockey team on Saturday. Five minutes of overtime couldn’t produce a winning outcome, either.
The Green Wave ended up skating to a 1-1 tie against West Springfield at Olympia Ice Arena in Berry Division play.
“We put the effort in,” Greenfield coach Adam Bouchard said. “The shots showed that. From our forecheck, our effort and teamwork were there. We have to score more than one goal. The offensive zone possession was there. We just have to finish our opportunities.”
After giving up 16 goals in their first three games, the defensive play improved dramatically. Jack Laurie led the defensive effort for the Green Wave.
“We had better coverage overall,” Laurie said. “We had a lot less penalties than usual. But still, our one goal was because we were on the penalty kill. We had a little more effort. Less running around. More collective. The team wasn’t stressing.”
In the Berry Division, the teams play a five-minute overtime of 4-on-4 to decide the outcome. Both teams had chances but couldn’t produce a game-winner.
“It’s a lot of skating,” Laurie said. “A lot of space. Whatever team can hold the puck the longest will do better. We just couldn’t capitalize.”
Outside of a second-period goal by Luca Siano, the Green Wave (0-3-1, 0-2-1 Berry) could not find the net. It certainly was not for lack of chances as Greenfield outshot the Terriers, 65-39.
“We had 65 shots,” Laurie said. “We just couldn’t bury it.”
Chase Zraunig assisted on the goal by Siano, who made a sweeping move toward the net to give the Green Wave a 1-0 lead at the 5:27 mark of the second period.
Ben Johnston was solid in net for the Green Wave, making 38 saves. A breakdown led to West Springfield’s first goal. Jack Therrien scored at the beginning of the third period for the Terriers. The Green Wave were fresh off a penalty kill, and their skater was just returning to the ice. Therrien collected the puck after a rebound and fired it into the net with Johnston out of position.
“We had a breakdown in the forechecking area,” Bouchard said. “We had one major mistake that we actually talked about right before the period started. We broke down what we didn’t want to do. Benny made the first save. Rebound goal. Besides that, he stood on his head and made some huge saves.”
Therrien had an opportunity just minutes into the game on a semi-breakaway that was turned away by Johnston. After a period, Greenfield had 20 shots compared to 10 by the Terriers (2-2-1, 0-2-1 Berry). Early in the second period, the Green Wave unleashed six shots in a span of just over two minutes but couldn’t connect on a goal.
Johnston made another save on a breakaway by Therrien in the third period. The Green Wave then survived a full minute with Johnston’s stick sitting on the ice near the boards.
The Green Wave did not change any strategy on defense.
“It’s still the same defensive strategy that we’ve had the last couple years,” Bouchard said. “I think it’s just more communication and effort. Seeing that it can actually work. We were able to gain possession of the puck in all three zones quickly.”
Greenfield was 4-for-4 on the penalty kill. Greenfield had one power play opportunity late in the game. The Green Wave went on the power play with three minutes, 55 seconds left in the regulation but couldn’t capitalize.
The Green Wave play again on Friday at the MassMutual Center in Springfield against Longmeadow (2-2, 2-2) in Berry Division play. Puck drop is set for 1:30 p.m.