MIDDLETON — Postseason hockey is not supposed to be easy. Hopedale-Milford certainly played the role of an aggressive and effective irritant to host Essex Tech for much of Saturday afternoon.
But after sweating out the final three minutes of regulation, the Hawks — as they almost always seem to — found a way to come out winners at the end.
For the second time in school history, Essex Tech has advanced to the Division 3 state quarterfinals after winning two playoff games, including this 4-3 decision over the Raiders at the Essex Sports Center.
“We come in every day with the same principles: work hard, get the puck in deep, have a strong forecheck and put a body on one of the other guys,” senior left wing Anthony Bisenti, who scored the eventual game-winning goal, said.
“We never make it easy,” admitted Hawks head coach Mark Leonard. “They made it tough for us, but every time they scored we responded. That was nice.”
Third seeded Essex Tech (18-3-1) now moves on to battle sixth seeded Bedford (also 18-3-1) in the Division 3 Round of 8 (TBA). The two teams, both of whom feature speed and skill, have each beaten the other once in the state playoffs, including a 1-0 Essex Tech win in overtime in 2022 when many of current seniors on both sides were freshmen.
Junior Ted Tsoutsouris, a right wing who missed time earlier this season because of concussions, used his speed and low, accurate shot to pot a pair of goals in the victory.
“I just find open space and look for passes or pucks off the glass, then go for breaks towards the net,” said the 17-year-old from Danvers.
He had the only goal of the first period, taking a pizza pass off the boards in the neutral zone from Ben Rehal and breaking into the Raiders’ zone alone before beating goaltender Nathan Morin (30 saves).
“Honestly, I was just looking to create a rebound, but saw his 5-hole was open and slid it through,” said Tsoutsouris.
His second tally came off a 2-on-1 with Brian DeLisio just two minutes into the second period.
Hopedale-Milford (10-12), the No. 19 seed, had just one shot on net in the first period but made their first of the middle stanza count when Ricky Nashatawy one-timed a shot out front. But Essex Tech responded just 70 seconds later when captain Brady Leonard broke down the left wing boards, cut towards the net and tucked in a backhand. It was his 31st goal of the season and 150th career point.
A Josh Balzarini wrister from the high slot cut the Hawks’ lead to one late in the period, but the Hawks again responded quickly. This time it was Bisenti, following up a Leonard shot by knocking home the rebound just 39 seconds later to make it 4-2 after two.
“I’m always trying to find the open lane,” said the 18-year-old Bisenti, one of eight Essex Tech players who hails from Peabody. “My linemates (including captain and RW Jaydan Vargas) make it easy; I either get the puck on net or get it to them when they’re open.”
Although Hopedale-Milford scored on the power play with 3:12 remaining, junior Teagan Moreau had his best period of the game in the third, making nine big saves.
Third liners Jake Swencki (a junior from Beverly who really got after it on the forecheck), Tyler McHugh, Mikey Cann and Brett Granger all drew praise from Leonard
“Talk about unheralded guys; we wouldn’t win without them,” said Leonard. “We wear teams down in the third period because of those third line guys.”
Essex Tech 4, Hopedale-Milford 3
Division 3 second round playoffs
at Essex Sports Center, Middleton
Hopedale-Milford;0;2;1;3
Essex Tech;1;3;0;4
First period: ET, Ted Tsoutsouris (Ben Rehal, Cam Casey), 13:22.
Second period: ET, Tsoutsouris (Brian DeLisio, Riley Sobezenski), 2:05; HM, Ricky Nashatawy (Aiden Collins, Griffin Paquette), 4:29; ET, Brady Leonard (Anthony Bisenti, Liam Waterman), 5:39; HM, Josh Balzarini (Collins, Nashatawy), 11:58; ET, Bisenti (Leonard, Mason Suttcliffe), 13:37.
Third period: HM, Dave Fleming (Collins, Joe Butler), ppg, 11:48.
Saves: HM, Nathan Morin 30; ET, Teagan Moreau 13.
Records: ET, 18-3-1; HM, 10-12-0.