Concord boys hockey dominants second period to beat Londonderry

HOOKSETT – The Concord High School boys hockey team was looking to create some separation Saturday between itself and Londonderry in the second period.

The Crimson Tide did more than just pull away in the middle frame. They dominated.

Concord scored four goals in the period, including going 2 for 2 on its first two power play opportunities, on the way to a 7-1 win over the Lancers in Division I game at the Tri-Town Arena.

Drew Livingston scored twice and Alex Marceau had a goal and three assists to lead the Tide (11-1) to their 11th straight win. Concord hasn’t lost since falling to Bedford by a goal in the season opener.

“After the first period, I thought (five-on-five) we were dominant in the second and third,” Concord coach Dunc Walsh said. “We moved the puck pretty well coming to center ice and we controlled it in their end. We could have had more. It was a good, solid win and everybody contributed.”

Andrew Cole, Daniel LeBell and Matt Chorlian each had a goal and an assist while Colin Kastle added a goal and an assist. Trevor Bickford had two assists and Anders Norton had one helper.

Londonderry (8-4) got a goal from Troy Muldoon, with Patrick Murphy and Anthony Federico getting assists, but the Lancers couldn’t capitalize on a few other chances in the first period when the game was still close.

“I think we came out and competed well in the first period,” Londonderry coach Peter Bedford said. “Our guys, the one-on-one battles, those little tiny battles all over the ice, if you’re not winning them, it makes for an uphill battle. They’re a great team, and as far as I’m concerned, I look at them and Bedford, and they’re the class of the league.”

The Lancers had the game’s first chance, when Mike McCormick found himself with the puck alone next to Concord goalie Griffin Gilbert, but Gilbert made the same to keep it scoreless in the opening minutes.

Both teams hit a post midway through the first, with Londonderry’s Jack Thompson ringing the pipe on a breakaway. Moments later, Chorlian scored for Concord to make it 1-0 with 4:15 left in the first.

But Londonderry was able to tie it up before the period ended, with Muldoon making a great move at the blue line to get a step on the Tide defense. The senior beat Gilbert high to even things up with 1:19 to go in the period.

The Lancers almost took the lead early in the second, but Patrick McKinnon just missed a centering pass as he crashed the net. Moments later, the Londonderry junior was called for a trip and Concord capitalized on the penalty, making it 2-1 on Livingston’s first goal.

Another penalty on the Lancers gave the Tide a man-advantage a few minutes later and Marceau made it 3-1 with 6:36 to play in the period.

“The first period, we had more chances, but they had a couple of good chances,” Walsh said. “First shift of the game, they had a guy right in front of our net. I thought once we opened it up to 3-1, our guys loosened up and turned it on.”

Kastle made it 4-1 just 36 seconds later and LeBell deflected a shot by Chorlian over the glove of Londonderry goalie Cameron Donovan to make it 5-1 with 2:06 left in the second.

“I think we knew they were going to be a good team, so we had to play hard all three periods,” Livingston said. “That first period was tied, so we knew we had to pump a few in in the second period and gain some confidence.”

Livingston made it 6-1 just 33 seconds into the third period and Cole finished out the scoring with 7:30 left in the game.

“Our guys skated well,” Walsh said. “The top two lines move the puck well and our defense kind of controlled the game. It’s a solid win.”