BHBS gets back on track with win over Saratoga

Yesterday, one could say that the Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa hockey team had never beaten Saratoga before, and they’d be right. They’ll be wrong now, though.

BHBS used a huge third period to take down the Blue Streaks 4-2, ending a slump where they had lost 3 of 4 games. Henry Koch scored twice, including the game-winner, and Trevin Tidmarsh made 26 saves in the win.

The first period was played pretty evenly, with Saratoga outshooting BHBS 11-10 in the frame. The Streaks struck first when senior forward Jake Fauler one-timed a loose puck past BHBS junior goalie Trevin Tidmarsh. The Spartans were able to answer when Alec Lind ripped a wrister past Saratoga goalie Drew Rafferty on the power play to make it 1-1.

In the second period, the game continued to be played basically completely evenly, with the teams matching each other practically shot-for-shot. BHBS had several good scoring opportunities when penalties to Eric Jess and Matt Shamberger gave the Spartans a 5-on-3 power play for a full 1:30, but they couldn’t convert. Ryan Robens redirected a shot past Tidmarsh with under 4 minutes to go in the second period, but BHBS defenseman Henry Koch answered by burying a wrister past Rafferty with just over a minute to go in the period.

If the first two periods were even, the final frame was anything but. BHBS dominated, outshooting Saratoga 14-1 in the frame, and took their first lead of the night when Koch redirected a shot from junior d-man Sam Swingruber to give BHBS a 3-2 lead. They continued to pressure the Streaks relentlessly, and Swingruber added an empty-net goal with under a minute to go to lock the game up.

It was a huge win for the Spartans, who rebound from a stretch where they lost 3 of 4 games, despite outshooting their opponents in every one of those games. For Saratoga, it’s their sixth consecutive loss, and their second straight within Section 2. BHBS earns their 8th league point with the win, remaining in second place in the league, while Saratoga stays at 8th place, with 3 points. The Spartans will next play Friday at home vs Queensbury, while Saratoga will travel to face off against Shaker/Colonie on the road on Friday.

GOALS:

1st period:

(7:14) TOGA: Jake Fauler (9) ASST: None

(0:54) BHBS: Alec Lind (10) ASST: Sam Swingruber (7)

2nd period:

(3:37) TOGA: Ryan Robens (5) ASST: Xavier Clarke (1)

(1:13) BHBS: Henry Koch (2) ASST: None

3rd period:

(5:47) BHBS: Henry Koch (3) ASST: Sam Swingruber (8)

(0:47) BHBS: Sam Swingruber (6) ASST: None

SAVES:

BHBS- Trevin Tidmarsh 26/28

TOGA- Drew Rafferty 26/29