Parsippany 3, Parsippany Hills 2
After a lackluster first two periods, Parsippany awoke with a rousing third-period comeback Friday to upset sister school Parsippany Hills 3-2 for its second consecutive Iceman Trophy. Ryan Scalzo netted a hat trick in the final stanza, including two goals within 24 seconds to tie the game, and goalie E.J. Alley made 20 saves for the Red Hawks.
Parsippany Hills dominated the first two periods, with senior forward Jason Giner the catalyst as always. Giner won the opening face-off and hit the crossbar within 10 seconds, and he drew a penalty six seconds after the opening face-off of the second period. Parsippany had two power-play opportunities in the first period but looked disorganized, while ParHills did not pick up its attack until late.
Alley saved a Giner breakaway less than three minutes into the second period, but the Vikings kept up the pressure and took the lead seconds later. After a scramble in front of the net, the puck deflected into the right face-off circle, where Anthony Iannone wound up for a huge slap shot past a screened Alley to make it 1-0. It was 2-0 at the 5:46 mark when defenseman Phil Tucci ripped a blast from the point that again sailed through traffic and beat Alley up high. Parsippany had a chance to get back in the game a minute later, but forward Steve Dellafave hit the crossbar on a breakaway. ParHills gave the Red Hawks another opportunity with a five-minute major late in the period, but Parsippany managed just two shots in more than four minutes of power play time.
In the third period, Parsippany got a full two minutes of five-on-three action after simultaneous minors to ParHills, but Viking goalie Sean McGlory turned away three shots to kill the opportunity. Nevertheless, the Red Hawks found their way back into the game at the 8:34 mark, as Scalzo’s shot from the right face-off circle slipped inside of McGlory’s right-hand post. Scalzo also spent time at defense but spearheaded the top line of Scalzo, Dellafave, and Matt Rigoli in the third period, and that line produced another goal 24 seconds later. Dellafave and Scalzo broke into the zone with a two-on-one, and after a deflection Scalzo beat McGlory five-hole to tie the game. After a ParHills power play yielded little, Parsippany went on the power play for the final 1:12 of the game. They managed to get set up in the zone, and the puck finally came to Rigoli on the point. His slap shot was saved by McGlory, but the rebound lay loose in the lower right circle, allowing Scalzo to get there and flip the puck over a sprawled-out McGlory for the game-winner with just nine seconds remaining.
The only scheduled meeting this season between the rivals marked Parsippany’s second consecutive Iceman Trophy as the winner of the season series after the Red Hawks won last year’s title on goal difference. ParHills won the previous four from the teams’ acceptance to the MCSSIHL in the 1999-2000 season.
Player of the Game: Ryan Scalzo (Pars)
Parsippany
3, Parsippany Hills 2
Parsippany 0 0 3 - 3
Parsippany
Hills 0 2 0 - 2
Parsippany 7 5 13 - 25
Parsippany
Hills 6 7 9
- 22
None
3:07
ParH #23 Anthony Iannone (#9 Jason
Giner, #29 Louis Eswood)
5:46
ParH #25 Phil Tucci (#23 Anthony
Iannone)
8:34
Pars #20 Ryan Scalzo (#17 Ryan East,
#29 Matt Rigoli)
8:58
Pars #20 Ryan Scalzo (#2 Steve
Dellafave)
14:51
Pars(pp)#20 Ryan Scalzo (#29 Matt Rigoli, #24 Mike Jacquin)
Parsippany
1-5
Parsippany
Hills 0-3
#1
E.J. Alley (Pars) 22-20
#30
Sean McGlory (ParH) 25-22