McGinn, Capsalis lead Salem boys hockey to win, end Concord’s streak

CONCORD – The Salem High School boys hockey team ended the longest winning streak in Division I this season Friday at Everett Arena. The Blue Devils received a hat trick from Mitch McGinn and a 54-save performance from Paddy Capsalis en route to their 4-3 triumph over Concord.

The Crimson Tide (14-2) had won 14 straight entering Friday’s contest. Salem (11-3-2) was on a six-game winning streak entering Friday but only one of those triumphs came against a team with a record above .500.

The Blue Devils led, 3-1, entering the third period despite Concord’s 37-8 shot advantage over the first 30 minutes. Capsalis, a senior, made 36 saves over the first two periods to preserve his team’s advantage.

“Basically just their compete level just came up and they maintained it for most of the game,” said Salem coach Mark McGinn, who is also Mitch’s father. “That’s the difference.”

Mitch McGinn scored on Salem’s first two power-play opportunities to give his team a 2-1 lead heading into the second frame.

Mitch McGinn opened the game’s scoring at the 3:32 mark and broke a 1-1 deadlock 7:15 into the first period. The sophomore forward scored his first goal on a low shot from close range and netted his second off a backhander from the left circle.

Mitch McGinn completed his hat trick with a rebound goal 2:37 into the third period that built a 4-2 Blue Devils lead. His goal marked Salem’s lone shot on goal in the period.

“(Capsalis) played fantastic and offensively we didn’t have ton but we had opportunities and jumped on them,” Mark McGinn said.

Alex Marceau netted a shorthanded goal following a faceoff win by Ethan Donlon with 6:48 left to pull Concord within one. The Crimson Tide spent two minutes of the final 4:18 on the power play but Capsalis and his teammates hunkered down and kept Concord at bay.

“Alex got the shorthanded goal and (it was) 4-3 and I thought for sure we were going to tie it,” Crimson Tide coach Dunc Walsh said. “I mean, we had a million chances but it was one of those games.”

Concord junior forward Drew Livingston scored a backdoor, power-play goal off a feed from Marceau 4:48 into the contest to knot the score at 1-1. Livingston also scored on a turnaround shot 16 seconds into the final frame to cut Salem’s advantage to 3-2.

Like they did most of the game, the Crimson Tide spent the majority of the final five minutes of the first frame in Salem’s zone but could not best Capsalis. The Salem netminder also held the Concord scoreless on 20 shots in the middle stanza.

“After they scored the first one, I just thought to myself, I said, ‘They’re going to have to work the hardest they possibly can to score another one,’ ” Capsalis said.

A Concord player accidentally poked the puck by Concord goaltender Spencer Burgess with 4:47 left in the second period, giving Salem a 3-1 advantage. Blue Devils senior Dylan Salvo was credited with the goal.

Burgess relieved Griffin Gilbert after Mitch McGinn scored his second power-play goal in the first period. The two combined for five saves.

“Their goalie played really well and they hung on and they were opportunistic when they had to be,” Walsh said of the Blue Devils.