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By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Special teams are a big part of hockey. If a team takes eight penalties in a period, and most of them overlap to allow multiple five-on-three advantages, a lot of pucks are going to end up in the back of your net. This was exactly the case on Wednesday night at Canton Ice House when the Westwood High boys hosted Bellingham.
The Wolverines (6-6-1, 5-3-1) entered looking to make it consecutive wins following a 1-0 victory at Holliston on January 25. Junior captain and forward Nick Horsfall drew first blood for the Wolverines after burying a rebound at the net-mouth midway through the first period, allowing Westwood to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.The second period served as the game’s turning point, and then some. In a span of just 6:55, the Wolverines buried five goals, with four coming on the power play. Junior forward Blake Hobson got it started just 24 seconds in by firing home a wrist shot from the top of the circle. Just 1:17 later, senior defenseman AJ Maalouf wristed home a shot from the point on the power play to make it a 3-0 game. With 9:52 remaining in the period and Westwood on a five-on-three advantage, junior captain and forward Colin Fahey tapped home a shot-pass from Maalouf at the net-mouth to make it a 4-0 game. Junior forward Brendan Fay buried a snap shot up high just 24 seconds later to extend the lead to 5-0. Fahey’s second of the period with 8:05 remaining, again on the power play via a snipe from the high slot, gave Westwood a 6-0 lead at the second intermission.
The Wolverines would add a late pair of goals in the third period and cruise to an 8-0 victory.
Westwood will look to stick to its winning ways when the Wolverines travel to face Medway on February 5 at Pirelli Arena in Franklin.
For funny and insightful sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0.