SALEM, N.H. — Coming off a 3-0 loss to undefeated Concord, and knowing that he would be opposite one of the better goalies in New Hampshire, Pinkerton Academy’s Tanner Moody had something to prove on Wednesday night when the Astros took on archrival Windham.
That could have easily gone out the window when Moody gave up a goal on the first shot he faced.
“That kid had a good shot. It was nicely placed in the bottom corner. I just missed it with my glove,” said Moody. “When that happened before, it would bother me but now I have learned to just shake it off and just keep going.”
He did just that.
He pulled the puck out of the net and went to work. The senior stood tall the rest of the way, including making 13 of his 21 saves in the third period to push the Astros to the 3-1 victory.
“That loss (to Concord) definitely helped us (tonight),” said Moody, a two-year starter, who last year posted a 2.74 GAA. “We locked in more and really wanted to come back harder for this game. This season, we have a good group of guys and they all care. After that (Concord) loss, it kind of hurt. We really wanted the win tonight.”
To get the team’s seventh win of the season, the Astros (7-2-0) had to figure out how to get the puck past Windham’s Roberto Robles, who like Moody, is one of the top goalies in the Granite State.
“Honestly, (facing an elite goalie) helps motivate me,” said Moody. “It makes me want to play better and try to out battle them. Sometimes when it’s a goalie battle like this game and a low scoring game, I usually play better because I want to win so badly.”
With the score tied at 1-1, Windham (5-4-0) had a golden chance to take the lead with under six minutes left in the second period. Declan Fleming shifted past an Astros’ defenseman and came off the left hand circle alone. He rifled a shot to the low far corner but Moody was able to deflect it with his stick.
Then midway through the third period with the game still tied, Windham went on a power play. Again Moody was up to the task, turning away three midsection shots.
A few minutes later, Pinkerton’s Coen Gordon and Davids Hibbard (empty-netter) scored goals to put the game away, and allowing Moody to celebrate with another impressive performance.
“Tanner has been rock solid for us all year,” said Pinkerton head coach Jon Chabot. “He’s great with his movement going post to post. He’s always willing and always ready for a fight.”
“Tanner anchors us for sure and he’s a good role model on and off the ice,” the coach added.