Indians Still Short of Playoffs, Lose To East Haven

The Indians were hoping to carry momentum from into Monday night's game in East Haven. However, the Easties strong start was too much for North Haven to overcome as the Indians lost 5-2.

East Haven played it's final game of the season at home and showed that sense of urgency coming out strong to score three goals in under three minutes in what would be the easiest part of the game for the Easties.

“We came out really strong in the first period and got two goals in the first two and a half minutes," said East Haven coach Lou Pane. "

Then North Haven came back right away and made a game of it. The Indians pressured the Easties and also scored two goals in the first period.

North Haven coach Mike Violano said he felt his team made a good effort, giving much of the credit to East Haven's goalie Sam Gavigan.

“It was 3-0, we fight back to 3-2, and then their goaltender … It was his game, 18 shots on him in the second, 16 shots in the third and he does not let up a goal," said Violano. "That was the difference.”

East Haven did capitalize on a number of North Haven mistakes but Pane felt that was part of their game.

“We tightened up defensively in our zone in the second and third as North Haven took it to us. We were fortunate to have Stephen Marsico put in the fourth goal on a short-handed break-away and Rich Decarlo really finished it off with the fifth goal off a pass from Ton Brunski, a play we call a long play that worked to a T,” said Pane.

North Haven (7-12) needs to win their final regular season game at West Haven to qualify for tournament play. The team will travel to take on West Haven today at Bennett Rink at 6:30 p.m. The Indians lost their first meeting with West Haven earlier in the season, 4-0.