Bulls Rush Past Knights 

Official Box Score

The Smithtown Hauppauge Bulls (8-4-3) extended their point streak to seven straight games with a 3-1 victory as they handed the Kings Park Commack Knights (10-1-2-2) their first regulation loss of the season. Bulls Captain Bobby Trites scored his fifth goal since returning from an injury sustained in the Bulls 3-2 loss to KPC earlier this season. The Bulls Captain is on a five game point streak with thirteen points during that span. Patrick Ryan was stellar down the stretch as the Bulls successfully killed off three power plays, including a six on four man advantage for the Knights in the final minutes of regulation. Patrick Malone scored his first career game winning goal at the Varsity level with linemate Max Campo tacking one on to extend the Bulls lead to two. The Bulls checking line of Max Campo, John Dallessandro and Patrick Malone tilted the ice in their favor with a nice blend of speed, skill and sandpaper that was apparent throughout the game. One could argue that all three Smithtown Hauppauge forward lines won their shifts more often than not. The Bulls benefited strong performances from a defensive core that was excellent from top to bottom in all three zones. The Bulls were without Michael Arnoni while Kings Park was without Nicholas Sattler and Ryan Walsh. Walsh scored the game winner in the first meeting between these two clubs.

Jayson Krauthamer made a series of show stopping saves, including a key stop on a penalty shot by Gavin Barrham to keep the game tied with 2:22 remaining in the 1st period. The KPC netminder has allowed just six goals in his last five starts with two shutouts during that stretch. It was the first time Krauthammer allowed more than two goals against since a 6-6 tie with the East Islip Chiefs on October 9th. The Knights have scored just four goals in the KPC goaltender’s last three starts.

The Knights lone goal of the game was scored by Tyler Granelli that was assisted by linemate’s Stefan Hludzinski and Jesse Lemza. The Knights, who have scored the second fewest power play goals in the league, went 0 for 3 on the man advantage.

Bobby Trites sniped short side high to give the Bulls their first lead of the night with 2:50 remaining in the 1st period. Twenty-eight seconds later Tyler Granelli buried the rebound from the back door to tie the game. Jesse Lemza entered the zone, made a pass from beneath the goal line to Stefon Hludzinski in the slot who fired a quick shot that was turned aside by the left pad of Patrick Ryan, but the loose puck was left right on the doorstep for Granelli to tap home. A lead pass by Adam Lackowitz on the ensuing face off led to Gavin Bareham being hooked on a breakaway opportunity. A penalty shot was awarded to the Bulls, but Krauthammer stonewalled Bareham to keep the game tied. With fifty-seven seconds remaining in the first period Patrick Malone scored to put the Bulls back up by one. Brendan Landrigan forced a turnover in the Knights zone, fired a shot that went up and over Krauthamer before landing in the blue paint where Malone overpowered two KPC defenders as the Bulls power forward tapped it home. 

Max Campo cashed in on a rebound to extend the Smithtown Hauppauge lead to 3-1 with 11:39 remaining in the 2nd period. Defenseman R.J. Pfister forced a change of possession at the KPC blue line right after the Knights got the zone exit and his defensive partner David Wetzel collected the puck before entering the Knights zone. The Bulls blue liner curled towards the left wing wall on an escape turn before making a quick pass to a cutting Pfister who fired a shot that led to the puck being kicked out right into the slot for Campo to backhand into the net. The Knights went on the first of three power play opportunities with 9:51 remaining in the second stanza, but Ryan shut the door on the penalty kill.

A roughing penalty that went against the Bulls put the Knights back on the man advantage with 12:26 remaining in the final frame. A face off win by Brendan Landrigan led to a shorthanded scoring opportunity for Gavin Bareham who fired a shot that was kicked out by the left pad of Krauthamer to Landrigan in the slot, but the KPC goaltender made the second stop. The Knights went with the extra attacker in the second half of their final power play of the game, but the Bulls killed off the six on four man advantage as they held on to win 3-1. 

Three Stars Of The Game

The Kings Park Commack Knights look to bounce back against the Northport Huntington Tigers on Wednesday January 10th at the Rinx at Hidden Ponds Park. Coverage will begin at 9:00 PM as the Knights take the ice on the South Rink in the second of three Varsity matchups scheduled to take place. In their first meeting of the campaign J.T. Caruso scored the golden goal in overtime as the Tigers defeated the Knights 2-1.

The Smithtown Hauppauge Bulls will square off with the East Islip Chiefs on Monday January 15th at 9:40 PM at the Rinx at Hidden Ponds Park. The Bulls led for the majority of their first game against the Chiefs, but Ryan Anatra scored the game-tying goal in a game that ended in a 6-6 draw after overtime. Anatra has not played since a 6-0 win over the West Islip Lions on November 20th.