One day after the high school ice hockey world was flipped on its proverbial head when state powers Regis Jesuit, Ralston Valley and Lewis-Palmer lost, the only one to go right back out and try to start a new streak was Ralston Valley.
It didn’t get any easier for the Mustangs against a young and hungry Bishop Machebeuf team at DU’s Magness Arena on Saturday.
But the quick start came and the Mustangs made their two-goal, first-period lead hold up for a 5-3 victory over the Buffaloes.
“Last night was last night. We played a good game and the goalie (Monarch’s Zane Sampson) stood on his head and made some great saves,” said Ralston Valley coach Jon McKibbon, whose team lost 2-1 to newcomer Monarch on Friday. “We were excited to get going today, even though it was a quick turnaround.”
Bishop Machebeuf (7-4) cut the Mustangs’ lead to 2-1 early in the second period when Ralston Valley goalie Cody Buesser failed to clear and instead left the puck on the stick of Blaine Schrum, who had an empty net to fire on. Ralston Valley (8-1-1) answered on Kyle Bennett’s rebound goal and then on Ryan Finnefrock’s second goal.
“We were ready to get back out there and redeem ourselves,” said Finnefrock, who added an empty-net goal with two seconds left in the game to complete a hat trick. “We’ve got to learn how to bury teams.”
Despite its 31-18 advantage in shots, Ralston Valley kept the Buffaloes around.
Bishop Machebeuf made it a 4-3 game early in the third period on Jeremy Chavez’s goal as a power play came to an end.
“I’m pleasantly surprised with how we are playing,” said Bishop Machebeuf coach Al Quintana, who has just eight upperclassmen. “You’ve got to play the games, and we are trying to teach the young ones to step up and try to play above. They’ve exceeded my expectations thus far this season.”
Ralston Valley 2 2 1 — 5
Bishop Machebeuf 0 2 1 — 3
First period — 1, RV, Mit. Pijanowski (Tucker, Bennett), 5:48; 2, RV, Finnefrock (Ditirro), 10:50. Penalties — Gasbarro, BM (interference), 8:21; Duffy, BM (holding), 13:05.
Second period — 3, BM, B. Schrum (unassisted), 2:12; 4, RV, Bennett (unassisted), 3:38; 5, RV, Finnefrock (Mic. Pijanowski), 10:51; 6, BM, Allen (Gasbarro, B. Schrum), pp. Penalties — Bennett, RV (tripping), 14:01; Finnefrock, RV (head contact/checking), 14:29.
Third period — 7, BM, Chavez (Gasbarro, Allen), 1:31; 8, RV, Finnefrock (unassisted), en. Penalties — Taggart, BM (tripping), 2:08; Mit. Pijanowski, RV (tripping), 2:44.
Shots on goal — Ralston Valley 7-18-6 — 31; Bishop Machebeuf 6-5-7 — 18. Saves — Ralston Valley (Buesser) 6-3-6 — 15; Bishop Machebeuf (Stef) 5-16-6 — 27. Power- play opportunities — Ralston Valley 0-for-3; Bishop Machebeuf 1-for-3.
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com
