BY JONATHAN SKUZA
HENRIETTA, N.Y. — In deep playoff runs, you need your top players to shine when the lights are their brightest.
Top-seeded Pittsford got that in a 4-1 victory Thursday evening over number four-seed Penfield as the Panthers will go back to the Class A championship game for the second straight year.
”Being able to win in different ways is great and just happy to the opportunity to be back in the final,” Pittsford’s head coach Rory Foster said.
Junior goaltender Aiden Stauffer and senior forward David Pollard led the way for the Panthers on Thursday. Stauffer stopped 23 of the 24 shots he faced in the contest while Pollard led the offense with a goal and two assists.
The junior net minder had to keep himself focused throughout the contest as he a very little first period where he only saw two shots on net. Then, proceeded to see 14 in the middle period from the Patriots.
”I knew they were going to come out,” Stauffer said. “So I needed to be ready for them to shoot. I had to be ready at all times.”
Stauffer has stood tall for Pittsford this season as he led Class A in goals against average with a 1.67 during the regular season and has averaged a goal against in the two contests in the postseason so far.
”It’s nice to feel that like you have a reliable guy back there,” Foster said. “He right now seems to be next in line of really solid goaltenders back there.”
Pollard continued his strong senior campaign as he led the Class A in goals with 27 and points with 49 and now leads his team with four points in this postseason.
”Always comes through when you need him,” Foster said. “He always dangerous. He’s just so lethal and when you give him a chance, he makes it count.”
Pittsford swarmed Penfield for a good amount of the contest especially in the first period where the Panthers outshot the Patriots 12-2 while collecting two goals.
Ryan Schmalstich opened the contest’s scoring as he banged home a goal right after the Panthers’ power play was killed off. Pollard and Casey Reagan were credited with assists on the opening tally. Kelan Ahern doubled the lead after put home a loose puck in front of the net with help from Pollard and Peter Yarovinsky.
Pollard extended the Pittsford lead with his goal, where he used his size and speed to spring on a breakaway in the second period. Steffen Finke assist on the breakaway tally.
“I saw the puck out there and saw the defense and tried to drop my shoulder to muscle in and get to the net,” Pollard said.
McAllister King broke through for Penfield on the power play with a wrist shot from the point that beat Stauffer high. Owen Harris was credited with setting up the man-advantage tally.
Reagan, in the third period, answered for Pittsford with his own power play goal to put them back up by three. The senior forward threw a shot on net from the point and it was able to find the back of the net with help from Ryan Munzinger. Pittsford frustrated the Patriots until the final buzzer to send them back to the Class A championship contest.
Penfield had some chances and made a couple pushes that included pulling their goalie with over two minutes left in regulation, but ultimately fell short in the end.
“Tonight’s game was tough playing a great opponent,” said Penfield head coach Nathan Miller. “Having the opportunity to play them twice already, we kind of knew what to expect. This was a tough way to conclude our season.”
Penfield is only losing two seniors this season and have a lot of young players who had strong campaigns and will look to build on them next season.
“As the leadership just spoke in the room, our kids are motivated,” Miller said. “We turn the page on this season and we look to put ourselves in a better position when we start in November.”
Pittsford will now face number two seed Hilton, who is looking to claim Class A glory and dethrone the defending champion Panthers. The two teams will face off on Monday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gene Polisseni Center on the campus of RIT.
”We’re going to do our best to prepare for Hilton,” Foster said. “We just have to manage what we do well and dialing things that we want to see from our group and hoping to bring our best game on Monday.”
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