Kittanning downs Moon
Kittanning snapped a tie with four unanswered goals in the third period and skated away with a 6-2 win over Moon in the first round of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League Class AA playoffs at Belmont Ice Complex in Kittanning on Thursday night.
"In the third period, we geared up and played good defense," Kittanning coach Jon Yackmack said. "With good defense comes good offensive opportunities."
Kittanning (13-5-4) will take on Montour (14-6-1) in the quarterfinals at 8:40 p.m. Thursday at Island Sports Center on Neville Island. Montour had a bye in the first round.
Kittanning avenged a 4-3 loss to Moon on Jan. 2.
The Wildcats' balanced offensive attack produced goals from six players -- Justin Kovatch, Evan Blodgett, Colin McKelvey, Lee Heilman, Nick Troup and Steven Phelps.
Heilman's goal was of highlight-reel quality. He found the net while sprawling to the ice.
Also, Kittanning goaltender Joe Mercurio played a strong game and recorded 28 saves.
Last season, Kittanning was stopped in the first round of the playoffs.
Fox Chapel 3, Erie McDowell 2
At Valley Sports Complex, New Kensington, Fox Chapel senior Kyle Misour netted three goals before the second period was over, but the Foxes had to hold on for the win in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs.
Erie McDowell rallied with two goals in 16 seconds late in the second period but could get no closer despite having three power plays in the third period.
Fox Chapel (14-7-2) will play Meadville (19-3) in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Thursday at Meadville Area Recreation Center. Meadville had a bye in the first round.
Fox Chapel goaltender Eric Theissen turned in a solid game and made 22 saves on 24 shots. Theissen also had an assist on Fox Chapel's second goal.
Erie McDowell's John Cleary faced 20 shots in a game that evolved into a defensive battle.
Fox Chapel's Joe Budz finished with three assists.
Last season, Fox Chapel lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Penn-Trafford 5, Kiski Area 3
At Center Ice Arena, Delmont, Kiski Area scored three goals in 51 seconds to tie the game, 3-3, early in the second period, but Penn-Trafford scored two late goals to escape in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs.
Kiski Area senior forward Adam Bowman scored twice, including the game-tying goal with 13:37 to play in the second period. Senior forward Jeremy Zvonkovich netted the first goal for the Cavaliers.
Penn-Trafford broke the tie with 38 seconds left in the second period and added an insurance goal in the third period.
The game was marred by a high number of penalty minutes. Penn-Trafford was whistled 14 times for 55 minutes, and Kiski Area had nine penalties for 37 minutes.
Kiski Area competed in the Open Class, which is for developing teams, during the regular season. However, the Cavaliers qualified for the Class AAA playoffs because of their high winning percentage. They beat Baldwin, 7-6, in a Class AAA wild-card game on Wednesday night.
Kiski Area (20-2) will play Central (8-11-1), a cooperative team from the central part of the state, in the first round of the Open Cup playoffs at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Center Ice Arena.
