ST. PETERS • In late November, the Francis Howell North hockey team knocked off rival Howell on a goal scored with one second left.
Monday at the Rec-Plex, the teams renewed acquaintances and even though this one was close, it wasn't nearly as close as the first game.
Howell North again earned the one-goal win -- 2-1 this time -- to sweep the season series.
"This felt good," Howell North forward Daniel Rosse said. "We had the 2-1 lead for (almost) two periods. Keeping that lead was up to us. (Howell North goaltender Curtis) Vitale did very well in net to keep us in the game."
All Vitale and the Howell North defense did was kill all six power play chances that Howell had. Included among them was a 5-on-3 power play for 2 minutes to begin the second period.
Vitale made sure to make it known even though his name will go on to the stat sheet as having had a successful night, the kudos should in no way go just to him.
He had a little help from his friends.
"The defense did a good job and played very well tonight keeping the loose pucks and the rebounds away," Vitale said. "I made the first stop and the defense made the clear. We all worked well together."
The offensive story of this game, unlike the first meeting, was told in the first 18-plus minutes of the game.
Howell North (11-4) jumped to the lead just 2:04 into the game.
In the waning seconds of a power play, Howell North's Ryan Salmon crashed the net.
He was able to knock a rebound past Howell goaltender Zachary Gorman and into the net for the 1-0 lead. The goal was Salmon's second of the season.
"When you've got big games like this, everyone plays better and plays as a team," Salmon said. "Getting that goal really got us going."
Howell (5-9-1) scored the equalizer just over seven minutes later.
Seth Cooper provided the only shot that would beat Vitale to the game at one.
After Howell North killed off the aforementioned 5-on-3, the offense almost immediately went to work
Rosse crashed the net and scored the game-winning goal with 11:22 left in the second period.
"I drove the net, and the shot wasn't very hard," Rosse said. "That's what you have got to do. You put shots on the net. That the only way (to score)."
The shots were just about even after the second period with Howell up 12-11.
The Vikings wound up outshooting Howell North 23-18.
"It was nice (to play from the lead)," Howell North coach Paul Bruemmer said. "In a game like this, even a 2-1 lead is not a secure lead. The boys played well and Curtis really stood on his head. That was the difference."
For one Viking, the loss was not so much bitter as it was the norm, especially in a season in which his team has won just one-third of its games.
"It is tough to lose. but you get over it," Gorman said. "I have never beaten Howell North, at least on varsity. I thought we played well."
