Bishop Guertin
No. 8 Bp. Guertin 3, No. 1 Salem 2
Defense carried the day for Bishop Guertin (11-9-0), which limited the previously unbeaten Blue Devils to 19 shots. Justin Pearson delivered the game-winner with just less than five minutes to play, converting a Jordan Caito set-up.
The Cardinals had pushed Salem to the end of a 3-1 regular-season loss in late February and started fast in this one as Ryan Flynn scored in the first three minutes. Salem’s Chris Lemay tied it late in the first period, then Guertin’s Cam Hult (second period) and Salem’s Cody Soucy (third period) matched goals. Salem goalie Sam MacDonald had 18 saves while Alex Hall turned back 17 for Guertin.
Its first loss ended Salem’s season at 17-1-1.
No. 2 Pinkerton 2, No. 7 Exeter 1 (OT)
The Astros spotted Exeter a 1-0 lead but overcame a disciplined and determined effort by the Blue Hawks as well as 41 saves by their junior goalie Bryson Desjardins.
The Astros’ Ethan Landry ended it at 4:21 of the first extra session, with assists from Tyler Poole and Gio Corsetto. Christian Stone, from Jake Vadebocoeur and Tim Faulkner, staked Exeter to that 1-0 lead. Pinkerton’s Poole, from Zach Pendenza, tied it in the second. Jordan Puzzo had 14 saves for the ‘Stros.
Exeter concluded a big bounce-back year at 10-9-1.
No. 3 Concord 2, No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas 1
Unfazed by the post-season atmosphere, the young Crimson Tide continue to impress and advanced to their first Frozen Four since 2010 on Brad Murphy’s game-winner early in the third period.
That left it to junior goalie Ben Nelson (19 saves) to close the deal and he did so with some stellar stops down the stretch. Concord’s Alex Marceau (first period) and STA’s Dakota Pidgeon (second period) matched earlier power play goals. Saints’ goalie Zane Angelopoulos finished with 17 saves.
STA closed at 11-9-0.
Bedford
No. 4 Bedford 5, No. 5 Manchester Memorial 1
A balanced attack and sound play in all phases powered the Bulldogs to a convincing win. Brett Silva’s goal in the second period stood as the game-winner as Bedford reached the Frozen Four in its first D1 campaign.
Defenseman Matt Musgrave contributed a goal and an assist. Jay Roberto, Jacob Rioux and Nate John also scored. Nick Burgess gave Memorial short-lived hope when he made it 2-1 with a power play goal in the second period.
Memorial finished 11-7-1.
Semifinals
Wednesday, March 11
(at JFK Coliseum)
Concord vs. Pinkerton, 5:30 p.m.
Bishop Guertin vs. Bedford, 7:30 p.
