It was an up-and-down week for coach Carl Flynn’s Wildcat hockey team, but PI did well enough to win two of three games and move up to second place in the latest MPA Heal Point standings in Eastern Maine Class B.
Presque Isle had back-to-back home games over the weekend. The first was played Friday and ended up in a disappointing 7-6 overtime loss to Skowhegan/Lawrence in which the Wildcats squandered a three-goal lead heading into the third period and were beaten with 20 seconds left in overtime on Trey Michonski’s game-winner.
“We can’t seem to adjust our style of play to protect a lead,” Flynn said.
Two goals each by Andrew Michaud and Tyler Seeley and single goals by Mikey Michaud and Joe Patenaude had staked PI to a 6-3 lead after two periods, but Skowhegan/Lawrence, a Class A team, had the answer.
“We had several chances to win it in overtime and [PI goalie] Jillian [Flynn] robbed them of three excellent chances before the eventual winner,” said the Wildcat coach.
Alex Michaud recorded two assists, while Patenaude, Ryder Soucy, Reece McDougall, Cooper Madore and Austin Bouchard recorded one apiece. Flynn finished with 36 saves.
The following afternoon, the Wildcats bounced back for an impressive 9-3 rout of Winslow.
“I thought we played with great resilience, especially given the loss the night before,” Flynn said. “We were more disciplined and looked after our defensive zone much better.”
PI scored four first-period goals and added four more in the second. Soucy, Andrew Michaud, Seeley and Madore netted goals in the first 15 minutes of play, while Mikey Michaud, Alex Michaud, Dan Boucher and Madore tallied in the middle period.
Mikey Michaud capped the scoring with a goal early in the third.
Alex Michaud and Patenaude each had a pair of assists, while Soucy, Madore, Seeley, Andrew Michaud and Craig Schiff all added one.
Flynn shared goaltending duties with Oliver Gerrish and the two combined for 28 saves on 31 shots on goal.
Last Tuesday in Houlton, the Wildcats had to come from behind in the third period to down the Houlton-Hodgdon Blackhawks, 7-4.
Lucas Grant’s goal 2:05 into the third period had given the hosts a 4-3 lead, but PI proceeded to score four unanswered goals — the first by Seeley 27 seconds after Grant scored his. Alex Michaud scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 8:25 remaining, while Mikey Michaud notched a pair of insurance goals later in the period.
“We came close to blowing the game as we tried to work on new strategies,” Flynn said. “Once we fell behind, we returned to our usual game plan and were able to catch up and take the lead.”
The coach credited Patenaude for being aggressive throughout and playing an excellent game. He also lauded Mikey Michaud on getting his first career hat trick.
Seeley and Boucher scored first-period goals for the Wildcats. Alex Michaud, Seeley and Soucy finished with two assists each, while Patenaude, Madore and Levesque all added one. Flynn and Gerrish divided goalie chores and stopped 24 shots.
The Wildcats are now 6-4-1 on the season and trail only Messalonskee (9-0) in the standings. PI is just ahead of Winslow, John Bapst, Waterville and Hampden for the No. 2 position with seven to play, with the next game at home Friday against Waterville.
