Mojo can be an elusive entity, as University can attest after the last two weekends.
Coming into last weekend, the Preppers were red-hot and could seemingly do no wrong. Then came a disastrous two-game stretch during which they blew a three-goal third-period lead against Walsh Jesuit and were not much better the following night against Padua, both Great Lakes Hockey League setbacks.
In the last 72 hours, that mojo that was slipping away was relocated with a pair of victories going away — coupled with the flawless timing of it just happening to be against two of US’ opponents against which it would love nothing more than to accomplish that feat.
Luke Palmer logged a hat trick, Luke Brandon contributed a key second-period goal and the Preppers found separation via special teams in the second for a 4-1 win over Gilmour in a battle of the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in The News-Herald hockey Top of the Crop.
#NHhockey US senior defenseman Luke Brandon discusses a 4-1 win over Gilmour
Contributed a key 2nd period goal on the PP & I thought generally US did a pretty decent job on the backcheck tonight
(Story will be tweeted imminently) pic.twitter.com/lNMmLFomQ2— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 30, 2023
US (21-8-1, 5-3 GLHL), which had defeated archrival Shaker Heights on Jan. 27 by the same scoreline, has settled No. 1 in the Crop for this winter with a regular season sweep of the Lancers (13-13-2, 2-3).
“Yeah, rivalry game, so the emotions always run high,” Preppers coach Andy Gerow said. “We were the benificiaries of some power plays. Give credit to those guys and (US assistant and former Preppers standout forward Evan Krueger) — they work extremely hard in practice. Both units were able to cash in.”
Locked in a 1-1 game after one, Brandon gave the Preppers the lead for good on a man advantage, as the senior blueliner slotted a wrister through traffic wide left for his fourth goal of the season.
Palmer continued his breakout junior campaign at 11:13 of the second. US went on a 5-on-3 power play courtesy of a slashing penalty, then a head-contact call 19 seconds apart on Gilmour.
He had an initial look turned away but hammered home the rebound from the left side of the crease to push the lead to 3-1.
Palmer provided the final margin at 6:35 of the third for his hatty, fifth goal in the last two games and 21st overall of the season.
#NHhockey US 4-1
Luke Palmer for the hatty at 6:35 pic.twitter.com/l7oigAebO2— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 29, 2023
“We were working around the top and working it low, and then we kicked it to Samonte down low,” Palmer said of the sequence. “Then we kicked it back up to (Sam) Wade, then back up to (Will) Genovese. He kicked it back to Wade, who found me cross ice and I put it away.
“I would say we needed this. We wanted to get back momentum before the Cleveland Cup, and it’s just a great two wins for our team.
After Palmer got his stick down on a loose puck at 1:20 of the opening period for a 1-0 advantage, the Lancers got their tying goal from Cole Bridges on a walker through the left circle, his eighth goal this year, with 15 seconds left before intermission.
#NHhockey US 1-0
Luke Palmer at 1:20 pic.twitter.com/cUhsLSL00s— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 29, 2023
Then the tide turned in the second.
Gilmour coach John Malloy, after a loss the prior night to Walsh, appreciates the general effort from his squad but wouldn’t mind more pucks being buried as February and a state title defense looms.
“The first period, we gave up a goal early,” Malloy said. “And then the second period, I think maybe their first shot was a goal on the power play. Then the third period, their goal was a breakaway. That’s just the way we’ve been rolling lately is giving up really ill-advised goals at the wrong time.
“The second period changed everything. We were playing well, had five, six shots already on net and getting good pressure on. … Again, I love my kids’ effort. They’re working really, really hard, but right now, we’re not making any plays at critical times.”
Mojo is elusive. But, seemingly, it is back in Hunting Valley.
“We had kind of been rolling at a good pace, and sometimes you never know when that kind of bump in the road is going to come,” Gerow said. “We blew a lead on Saturday against Walsh, and Padua took it to us on Sunday.
“We talked about it all week that it’s maybe the first time we have seen a lot of adversity. And credit to the leadership — (senior captain) Kellen McGarry, Will Genovese, Samonte Martin. They rallied the guys in a hostile environment at Thornton Park to go get that win, then come back against a really good team and a rival in Gilmour. So I just credit the leadership and the seniors for really rallying the guys after the results last weekend and those last games.”
