Third Period Goal Dooms Marauders in MIAA Playoffs

The first round of the MIAA Division 2 South tournament began Wednesday night with a close game in Canton, when the seventh-seeded Oliver Ames Tigers upended the 10th-seeded Dedham Marauders 1-0.

Momentum shifted back and forth, with both teams playing as though they would walk away victorious. Ultimately, the Tigers won by a single third period goal in the intense kind of matchup that only playoff hockey can provide.

From the start the stage was set for a classic game. Both teams came out aggressive, evenly matched for much of the first two periods. The competing styles of play could not have been more different. Dedham stormed the net, often crowding two or three players around it hoping for a lucky pass or deflection.  Oliver Ames’s rough defense combated this well, especially during the three Marauder power plays.

The Tigers play was much more systematic, passing more and taking long, sniper-like shots. Quickly the Marauders realized that the Tigers were a threat from anywhere inside the blue line.  It took a few periods for the Tigers to get comfortable, though. 

“We came out tight,” said OA coach Dan Scott, “it took us half the game to really get loose.” 

Dedham used this to their advantage, keeping up the pressure and hammering OA goalie Mackenzie Shalin with shots throughout the first two periods.

The game-changer came early in the third period. After a missed shot deflected behind the net by Dedham senior goalie Matt Baron, OA captain Andrew Taylor was able to retrieve the puck. He swiftly passed it to Ryan McGrath, who scored on a well-placed wrist shot that hit the goal’s upper left corner. 

“We were lucky to get that goal when we did,” said Scott.  Nevertheless, Scott was impressed with the win.  “It’s still very satisfying knowing that we won despite not playing our best hockey.”