KEENE, N.H. – Sean Hoffman and Payton Jones scored within 2:55 of each other midway through the first period to give the Keene State College men's ice hockey team a 2-0 lead and that cushion proved to be enough as the Owls staved off King's College (Pa.) 3-2 in a pre-holiday break Friday afternoon non-conference game at Keene Ice.

Highlights
Postgame Interview (Coach Rodrigue)
Postgame Interview (Ben Skelton/Marcus Chrisafideis)

Taking the ice for the first time in 13 days since a disappointing 5-3 road loss at New England College, the Owls (5-4-0) soared midway through the first period as Sean Hoffman scored his third of the season – all at home – off a roofed wrist shot from just inside the blue line at 10:33.  KSC continued pressuring in the offensive zone in the ensuing minutes and found another just 2:33 later when Hoffman played helper and found Payton Jones below the right faceoff dot, who broke out of a slump with a nice goal, rifling a shot past King's goalie Diego D'Alessandro for a 2-0 lead.  Jones also helped create his own tally, pressuring below the goal line just seconds earlier to prevent the Monarchs (1-8-1) from clearing around the boards, allowing Filip Tjarnhell to possess and eventually get the secondary assist.

What seemed like might be an easy day for the Owls, however, proved not to be.  King's, who began a two-game New England trip today before visiting Worcester State University tomorrow, made it a 2-1 game after one thanks to Braydon Buckingham's power play goal with 1:26 left in the period.  KSC's offense, meanwhile, was quieted after the early surge, compiling only nine shots on target in a scoreless second period that saw Ben Skelton make 13 of his 32 saves.  The Owls had a chance with a late power play in the second to restore a two-goal lead, but D'Alessandro made a pair of saves over the final 1:11 to keep it 2-1 and then stopped Chrisafideis 27 seconds into the third as the Monarchs drained the final 37 seconds of KSC's power play on the fresh sheet.

The Owls' top line restored comfort shortly thereafter, though, as Chase Carney kept the puck in the zone between the faceoff dots and had his pass deflected before D'Alessandro tried kicking it out – but Peter Unger was right there to get it off to Chrisafideis on his right who potted his fourth to make it 3-1 with 14:19 left.

Even still, the stubborn Monarchs would not go away, answering with one of their own less than five minutes later on what did not appear to be a supremely threatening shift.  Bennett Anklewich had his shot blocked from distance, but it fell between the two faceoff dots and Cristo Walker was unmarked and pounced on the chance nearly right in front of Skelton to score and make it 3-2.
The Owls' sophomore goalie from Roanoke, Va. stood tall after that to ensure KSC would get out of their home barn with a win, gobbling up Logan Gallagher's shot off what was a near 3-on-2 for King's.  Skelton also stopped a shot from Buckingham with 5:51 to go as he closed his pads to not be beaten low, and then kicked out his right leg to help keep out Thomas Soucy's shorthanded chance late in an Owl power play with 1:47 to go.  KSC finished 0-for-4 on the man advantage and could not salt away the game with their late opportunity – but their defense did, jamming up the blue line to prevent the Monarchs from getting any sustained zone time in the final minute.  Skelton easily paddled away two bids and KSC got them out of the zone, with Jared Martin also helping an icing be waved off late to drain the clock.

Skelton finished with 32 saves in the Owls' net in a winning effort while D'Alessandro stopped 30.

Hoffman and Shane Mazur each led KSC on the day with a plus-two rating, with Hoffman finishing with a goal and an assist.

It was a sorely needed victory for the Owls, who will embark on a month-long holiday break off a win that brought them back over. 500 both on the road and at home.  It was nonetheless a memorable semester of KSC hockey as they began their first-ever action in the Little East Conference and then picked up their first league win on November 15.  Thirteen LEC games remain after the break – a lot of time to make a move in the standings (the top six qualify for the postseason tournament) – including a home conference weekend on January 9 and 10.  The Owls will next take on Fitchburg State University (5-4, 3-0 MASCAC) on Monday, January 5 at 6:30 p.m. – a game that kicks off a four game in six day stretch for KSC as they also visit Westfield State University on January 7 before hosting the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and the University of Massachusetts-Boston on January 9 and 10.  Last year, the Owls went 5-5-1 in the pre-holiday portion of their schedule before going 8-5 after the new year.