Sasquatch Bounce Back with 8-4 Victory Over Mallards

Sasquatch Bounce Back with 8-4 Victory Over Mallards

Salem, NH – November 23, 2024

The Salem Sasquatch returned to form Saturday night with a decisive 8-4 win over the Norfolk Mallards at the Salem Icenter. After suffering their first regulation loss of the season last week, the Sasquatch came out strong in this contest, dominating the game from the opening puck drop and never allowing the Mallards to settle into their rhythm.

The Sasquatch struck first halfway through the first period when Alex Campbell scored on a short-side shot off a pass from his brother, Max Campbell, giving Salem a 1-0 lead. Salem kept things going scoring on the power play, with Andrew Contrada scoring on a shot from the point to give the Sasquatch a 2-1 lead. Cody Woodward and Kyle Weeks picked up the assists on the power-play goal. The Mallards answered briefly when Brad McGovern scored off a pass from Tommy Bellew, bringing the game to 2-1. Weeks was back on the score sheet with less than a minute to play in the period, tapping in a feed from Luke Plumley to extend the Sasquatch lead to 3-1.

In the second period, the Sasquatch continued to dominate offensively. Jay Delany capitalized on a rebound off a rush shot from Tom Missert to push the lead to 4-1. Norfolk fought back on the power play when Zach Lewis fired a shot off a pass from Brandon McGowen to make it 4-2. But Salem responded just 41 seconds later as Kellen Gelinas buried a pass from Max Campbell to make it 5-2. Tucker Twardosky would score with 2 seconds left for the Sasquatch with assists going John Hamilton and Weeks.

The final period saw the Mallards try to mount a comeback. Matt Guertin scored early in the period off a pass from McGovern, cutting the deficit to 6-3. However Kody Boyce responded for the Sasquatch with his first of two goals of the night, unassisted, making it 7-3. The Mallards continued to fight, with Lewis adding his second goal of the night on an unassisted effort. Boyce would score his second for the Sasquatch to end things with assists going to Twardosky and Gage Doucette.

Keegan McLaughlin, in his first game back from an ankle injury, earned the win in net for Salem, stopping 27 of 31 shots. For Norfolk, Joe Iadarola took the loss, making 18 saves on 23 shots, while Justin Koulalis made 14 saves on 11 shots in relief.

Three Stars of the Game:

1. Kyle Weeks (Sasquatch) – 1 goal, 2 assists

2. Max Campbell (Sasquatch) – 2 assists

3. Zach Lewis (Mallards) – 2 goals

Looking Ahead:

Both teams will take a break for the Thanksgiving before returning to action on December 7. The Sasquatch will travel to Springfield to face the Holyoke Papermen in a battle for first place at 7:00 p.m. Meanwhile, the Mallards will look for their first win of the season as they take on the Boston Gold Kings in Watertown at 7:00 p.m.