BOSTON SURVIVES NATIONALS' COMEBACK TO WIN TITLE

Boston used key stops from goalie Jordan Burke (nine saves) and timely goals from Pat Heim and Kevin Buchanan to earn a championship in the team’s 11th season. Ryan Boyle also chipped in with one goal and three assists.

 

Hamilton fell behind 8-4 in the third quarter after scoring four of the game’s five goals after Cody Jamieson tied the game at three. In the third, it was Powell that kept the Nats within striking distance with two goals. He got the Nats within two with a goal at 1:19. Heim responded for Boston at 3:29 to re-establish the three-goal lead. At 6:48, Jack Reid was accessed two one-minute penalties and a five-minute call to give the Nationals a huge opportunity. Boston, however, netted a shorthanded goal at 8:08 to take its biggest lead of the game at 8-4. Powell tried to lead his team back with his second of the quarter at 9:52. Jeremy Boltus followed his lead and tallied to cut the deficit to 8-6.

 

The Nationals came to life in the final quarter as Powell completed the hat trick to cut the lead to one at 8-7 at 1:04. Boston broke a 17-minute scoreless drought with a goal by Heim at 10:41. The Defensive Player of the Year then provided some offense as Brodie Merrill drilled one by Burke at 11:12 to pull Hamilton to within 9-8. Boston just kept coming as Kevin Buchanan made it 10-8 with 3:03 to play. Jamieson cut the deficit to one with 31.7 to play with a drive from the right wing. Hamilton stole the ball from Rabil, but did have time to set up an offensive play.

 

Boston used a man-up goal to open the game as Boyle scored after receiving a feed from regular season MVP Paul Rabil at 1:34. Hamilton responded with two straight to pull into the lead. Kevin Crowley broke past the double team and bounced one past Burke at 3:51 to tie the contest. Jamieson then rolled in front and scored for a 2-1 Nats lead at 7:48. Yet, the lead was short-lived as Matt Poskay tied the contest at two at 9:14. He struck again at 13:16 to help the Cannons regain the lead.

 

Hamilton’s starting goalie Scott Rodgers made two huge stops to start the second and the special teams then evened the game. Powell banked a shot off Burke and into the net at 3:13. Boston responded with a 3-0 run to take a 6-3 lead with the first by Mike Stone 55 seconds later for a 4-3 lead. Poskay followed with his third of the contest at 6:53 to give Boston its biggest lead of the day. After a Ross goal, Rodgers was outstanding making 10 stops in the second to give him 16 in the second. Brett Queener took over in goal in the second half to change things up for the slumping Nationals. He ended the game with four saves.