WINSLOW — The Skowhegan hockey team is clinging to an Eastern A playoff berth despite entering Wednesday with just one victory in its last eight games.

The Indians needed a boost, a spark — something — to break out of a potentially season-wrecking slide.

Tyler Savage, Chase Nelson and Sam Edmondson provided one Wednesday.

Savage scored two goals and Edmondson stopped all 17 shots he faced to lift Skowhegan past Eastern B playoff contender Old Town 3-0 at Sukee Arena.

“It’s a big win for us to get back on track,” said Savage. “I’m hoping after this victory we can win a lot more and go right into the playoffs.”

Nelson also scored for the Indians (5-7-2), who came in 1-6-1 in their last eight games.

Advertisement

Trey Michonski, Cam Despres, Anthony Paul and Jake Johnson had assists.

“We came out hungry,” said Skowhegan coach Jeff Fowler, whose team avenged a 4-1 loss to Old Town (7-7-0) earlier last month. “We beat them to the first punch. It’s a very big win for us. This should give us a better chance to make the playoffs.”

Nathan Colaninnio stopped 46 shots for the Coyotes, who dropped their fifth straight.

The teams were scoreless until Savage took a pass from Despres at the bottom of the right circle and beat Colaninnio with a low shot to the stick side with 8 minutes, 20 seconds left in the second period.

“I got the puck and shot it where I saw an opening,” said Savage.

The goal came just 30 seconds after Colaninnio robbed Despres on a mini-breakaway.

Advertisement

Nelson made it 2-0 less than two minutes later when he stuffed home a shot from out front with the Indians on the power play.

“Trey passed it to me out front and I went five-hole,” he said.

The goals were more than enough for the 6-foot-4 Edmondson, who played one of his better games of the season.

The Indians allowed 11 combined goals in their last two games, both losses.

“It feels good,” he said. “I feel like I played really well, but I had a lot of support in front of me. We needed this win.”

Added Fowler, who in his first season has helped transform Skowhegan from a one-win team to a playoff contender: “Our goaltender played really strong. They could’ve caught fire but he never let them. He kept the puck out of the net, and he made some big saves when it was still close.”

Advertisement

Savage made it 3-0 when he beat Colaninnio with a high shot to the near post with just 17 seconds left in the game.

“We haven’t been scoring a lot of goals but we got a few (Wednesday),” Fowler said. “We’ll take it. I’m really pleased with how we played.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.