CHS Roundup
Red Devils fall to strong Salem
In first-round Division 2 North Sectional play of the MIAA boys state basketball tournament last Thursday evening, Chelsea High took on Salem. The Red Devils opened promisingly on the Witches’ home court, jumping to a 6-3 advantage in the game’s opening minutes. Many Chelsea supporters in attendance—a number of whom arrived via a CHS fan bus—began to sense that an upset might be possible.
Salem’s dominance soon became evident, however. The Witches demonstrated the same form that had carried them through an undefeated Northeastern Conference championship, outscoring Chelsea 16-2 for the remainder of the first quarter and establishing a commanding 47-21 halftime margin.
Chelsea mounted a response after intermission, executing a 12-2 run early in the second half to cut the deficit to 14 points and prompt Salem to call timeout. The Red Devils could not maintain this surge, however. Two Chelsea turnovers coupled with a three-pointer by Salem stretched the gap back to 20 points, and the Witches ultimately prevailed 88-49.
“fblikebutton_button” said CHS head coach Jay Seigal. added Seigal.
Sophomore Chris Torrez turned in an outstanding game for Chelsea, hitting for a team-high 24 points. Jahro Marshall added eight points, followed by Steve Lacey with seven, Werner Mazariegos with five, Ralph Otero with two, Cobi Molina with two, and Balmeiro Daveiga with a free throw.
Despite the defeat, Seigal said his team had much to be proud of this season. said Seigal. His squad had defeated Masconomet Regional in a preliminary tournament round the previous Monday before facing Salem, the number one seed in D-2 North and ranked fifth statewide.
Bruins Beat by Bob Morello
Bruins hitting their stride
At the February 29th deadline, Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney made moves that many fans questioned. A retrospective look at his decisions shows promising results in Boston’s current standings. Keeping Loui Eriksson topped his agenda, while his two veteran acquisitions—forward Lee Stempniak and defenseman John-Michael Liles—have both proven valuable additions. Since the trade deadline, Boston has compiled four wins and a single overtime loss to the Washington Capitals in five games. Particularly noteworthy is that strong opponents account for three of those victories and the lone overtime setback: the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, and Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Capitals, the NHL’s top team and the source of Boston’s only loss, also occupy a playoff spot.
Tuesday’s thrilling 1-0 overtime victory showcased the exceptional 42-save performance by Bruins backup goaltender Jonas Gustavsson. Making his first start since allowing five goals in a 6-4 February 22nd loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Gustavsson proved more than equal to the challenge against Tampa. His 11-5-1 record becomes even more impressive considering eight victories came on the road, where Boston maintains a 23-7-3 mark. Tuesday’s triumph tied Boston with Tampa atop the Atlantic Division, though the Lightning hold a game in hand. At press time, the Eastern Conference picture showed the Bs knotted with Tampa (83) for third place, one point behind the New York Rangers (84) in second. The New York Islanders and Florida each trail Boston by two points with games remaining. A 7-2-1 record over their last ten contests and a two-game winning streak fuel Boston’s momentum.
With only 14 regular season games remaining, every point assumes critical importance, as these recent overtime victories demonstrate. Stempniak’s addition to the Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand line has addressed the right wing vacancy, producing a goal and five assists for six points across five games as a Bruin. Liles has contributed solid defensive play and veteran stability on the blue line, filling a particularly important role following Kevan Miller’s injury.
Boston’s faithful are enjoying the entertainment value that comes with exciting overtime victories. Marchand recorded his 34th goal just ten seconds into overtime against Tampa, while Stempniak’s game-winner marked his 17th against Florida, and Bergeron continues displaying his characteristic intensity with goals 27 and 28 against the Panthers. Tonight (Thursday at 7:00pm), Boston returns to Garden ice to face the Carolina Hurricanes, followed by a Saturday matinee (1:00pm) against the New York Islanders on this brief homestand. A four-game road trip follows, featuring three contests on the West coast—San Jose Sharks (Tuesday 3/15 at 10:00pm), Anaheim Ducks (Friday 3/18 at 10:00pm), Los Angeles Kings (Saturday 3/19 at 10:30pm)—before finishing with the New York Rangers (Wednesday 3/23 at 8:00pm).
Claude Julien’s achievement as Bruins Head Coach deserves recognition. He has surpassed Art Ross’s Bruins coaching record of 387 wins, now standing at 389 victories in his ninth season with Boston. Currently the NHL’s longest-tenured head coach, Julien has guided his team to playoff appearances in seven of his eight seasons, accumulating 57 playoff victories. His ultimate accomplishment came in 2011 with a Stanley Cup Championship. He earned the Jack Adams Trophy as league top coach following the 2008-09 season.