In two very important ways, the Skaneateles ice hockey team got even with Oswego.
First, by prevailing 3-2 at Crisafulli Rink Thursday night, the Lakers avenged an earlier defeat to the Buccaneers. Just as importantly, it pulled into a tie for first place in Division II, both sides now owning 22 points with two weeks left in the regular season.
That first meeting on Dec. 16 at Allyn Arena saw Oswego claim a 4-2 victory, one of the poorest outings of the season for Trevor Diamond (just 21 of 25 shots stopped) and the rest of the Lakers’ defense.
Now came the rematch at the arena affectionately known as “The Fort”, due to its proximity to historic Fort Ontario. But Skaneateles was not intimidated one bit.
Just 2:15 into the game, Scott Longtin flashed open in front of the Bucs’ net and flipped a wrist shot past goalie Chase Izyk, Taylor Haberstock and Jon Rogalia earning the assists.
For the rest of the first period, the Lakers controlled the flow of play, spending long stints in Oswego’s end, but unable to add to the 1-0 lead.
Once the second period started, it was Oswego’s turn to control the puck, swarming around Diamond, with two very notable exceptions that would prove pivotal to the outcome.
Brendan Major sprung Jake Cooney open with a deft pass from center ice, and Cooney waltzed in alone, beating Izyk on the high side 1:51 into the period to extend the Lakers’ lead to 2-0.
Josh Sova finally put Oswego on the board at the 12:10 mark, but just when it looked like it would go to the second intermission 2-1, Jim Rodgers offered a pass to a streaking Major, who poked a high shot home with just 41 seconds left in the period.
Skaneateles would need that goal. The third period belonged to the Bucs, an all-out attack where the Lakers were rarely able to clear the puck out of its own end, making Diamond a constant target.
But the combined work of defenders Jack Fabrizio, Tyler Strods, Gunnar Beck-Andersen, Josh Kuhns and Tyler Stanton kept Oswego frustrated, as did frequent stops from Diamond, who was on his way to a school-record 57th career win.
The Bucs did pull back within one on Sova’s rebound goal with 2:23 left, but the Lakers won all the ensuing face-offs and killed a vast majority of the remaining clock, though Diamond had to make a point-blank stop, his 27th save of the night, as the horn sounded.
One thing that the Lakers made sure of was not looking ahead to Oswego – as it proved last Tuesday at Allyn Arena by dismantling Fulton 8-1.
After allowing a rare goal in the first period, Skaneateles took a 2-1 game and pulled away by notching three goals in each of the next two periods, resting key players where necessary for the bigger battle with the Bucs.
Major and Cooney were tough to stop, as Major got two goals and three assists and Cooney contributed two goals and two assists. Rodgers put up a goal and two assists, with Strods, Fabrizio and Matt Clymer. Haberstock and Mitchell Jones joined Fabrizio in the assist column.
Skaneateles (11-1-5) has three games left in the regular season, including next Wednesday’s visit to Clinton, and it closes with home dates against Auburn Feb. 8 and CBA/J-D on Feb. 11. Oswego also has three games left, against New Hartford, Auburn and Fulton.
