Varied expressions hung on the faces of the players on the Concord and Hanover boys’ hockey programs.
For the skaters who had made the 64-mile trip to Everett Arena, loose smiles showcased in the delight of the outcome as Hanover’s players traded fist bumps and high-fives and coaches shook hands.
Meanwhile, for those in white home jerseys and red bottoms, a noticeable wave of stoic solemnness mixed with a tinge of disappointment quickly settled in as they made their way into a single-file line to share postgame remarks with the visitors.
While the emotions from the Crimson Tide might be viewed as extreme for a team that still technically remains unbeaten, anything short of a win can leave a frustrated mood in the ranks. Concord’s 1-1 tie with Hanover on Monday provided the first blemish on its record this season and a unique opportunity to regroup despite not losing.
There had been chances for both teams to score throughout the afternoon, and the final shots on goal – 36-22 in favor of the Tide – indicated as much. Concord, ever so reliant on its speed, forced Hanover to skate the length of the ice consistently throughout the game to defend breakaway opportunities as well as odd-man rushes.
And the Tide’s usual suspects – Brooks Craigue, Colin Nelson, Tyler Coskren and Cam McGonigle – were involved in scoring opportunities .
With the game moving closer and closer to an inevitable scoreless regulation, Coskren sent the puck into the back of the net with 3:30 left in the third period on a one-timer in the slot after Nelson redirected the puck toward him from behind the goal.
Concord had the goal and time on its side to close it out, but Hanover – always eager to give Concord a difficult contest – scored the game-tying goal with 73 seconds in the regulation. Casey Graham had a wide-open look as goalie Kevin Jones was blocked with a net-front screen.
Jones’ overall performance was yet another piece of evidence for the Concord goalie tandem of him and Will Pegnam as the best in the division, which is why Graham’s goal given the situation was all the more impressive.
The eight-minute sudden-death overtime period featured slight back and forth, but just 3:15 into the extra time the Concord power play unit took the ice with a sense of determination and focus.
Pass from the point to the slot back to the point and shoot. Wash, rinse, repeat. But nothing to show for it, and eventually the power play – along with the game – ended in a noticeable bout of frustration for the Tide.
“We expected a tough game,” Concord coach Dunc Walsh said. “They’re a good team, and we knew it was going to be a tough game.”
The Tide (12-0-1) had already played Hanover twice this season, once in the Brian Stone Memorial Tournament in December and in a regular-season game back on Jan. 5. Concord won both of those, but it’s difficult to beat a team three times in one season.
It only gets tougher for Concord as the season is quickly coming to an end and the playoffs draw near. The Tide close out the week with a road trips to Pinkerton on Wednesday and Bedford on Thursday before a home game against Londonderry on Saturday.