Salem Sasquatch Storm Past Norfolk Mallards to Advance to PPSHL Championship

Salem Sasquatch Storm Past Norfolk Mallards to Advance to PPSHL Championship

Attleboro, MA – March 8, 2025 – The Salem Sasquatch completed a remarkable comeback on Saturday night, defeating the Norfolk Mallards 3-2 in Game 2 of their PPSHL Playoffs best-of-three series. With the victory, Salem has secured its spot in the PPSHL Championship.

The game, played at the New England Sports Village, was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams. The Mallards came out strong, taking a 2-0 lead into the third period, but Salem's resilience and timely scoring, capped off by a clutch short-handed goal, turned the tide in their favor.

Norfolk's Early Advantage

The Mallards, needing a win to force a decisive Game 3, jumped on the board first in the opening period. At 18:16, Norfolk's Jake Morgan netted an even-strength goal, with assists from Kyle Nicolas and Hayden Kearney. The goal put the Mallards ahead 1-0, and despite several strong chances by Salem, the score remained unchanged through the first 20 minutes.

The second period saw Norfolk extend their lead. Zachary Lewis found the back of the net at 16:00, scoring another even-strength goal with the help of David Piela. The Mallards were in control, holding a 2-0 advantage as the game entered the final frame.

Sasquatch Make Their Move

But as the third period began, Salem's determination was evident. They had the firepower to mount a comeback, and they wasted no time getting started. Just 16:24 into the period, Salem cut the deficit to 2-1 when Andrew Contrada scored an even-strength goal, assisted by Ryan Glass. The Sasquatch were back in it, and the tension in the building mounted.

The game continued to build toward a dramatic finish. At 11:49, Salem’s Tucker Twardosky tied the game at 2-2 with another even-strength goal. Twardosky was set up beautifully by Contrada and Kris Cecere, and the Sasquatch had finally erased Norfolk's two-goal lead.

With the game on the line and just over three minutes remaining, Salem delivered the final blow. A crucial short-handed opportunity arose for the Sasquatch, and Justin Arnold seized the moment. At 3:07, Arnold scored the game-winning goal, unassisted, giving the Sasquatch a 3-2 lead.

Stellar Goaltending

Both teams received outstanding goaltending performances in this pivotal game. Norfolk’s Parker Butler was under siege for much of the night, facing 37 shots. He stopped 34 of them, finishing with a solid .919 save percentage, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Mallards ahead.

On the other side, Salem’s Keegan McLaughlin was exceptional in net, turning away 34 of 36 shots for a stellar .944 save percentage. McLaughlin’s play was crucial in keeping the Sasquatch in the game as they fought back from the two-goal deficit.

Looking Ahead to the Championship

With this dramatic 3-2 victory, the Salem Sasquatch not only clinched the series but also made an emphatic statement. After a season of steady improvement, they will now face the Boston Gold Kings in the PPSHL Championship, where they will look to claim their first league title.

For Norfolk, it’s a heartbreaking end to what was a promising second half of the season. Despite a strong showing throughout the game, they couldn’t hold on to their lead, and their playoff run came to an end.

3 Stars of the Game

1. Keegan McLaughlin- Salem- 34 saves on 36 shots .944 save%

2. Andy Contrada- Salem- 1 goal 1 assist

3. Parker Butler- Norfolk- 34 saves on 37 shots .919 save%