The Division I match-up between 9-4-0 Salem and 5-6-2 Manchester West had a little something for every ice hockey fan: fine goaltending from both starting netminders, hard-hitting confrontations in the corners, frenetic action from blue line to blue line, even some heated verbal exchanges.

Ultimately, the visiting Salem Blue Devils had a little too much of everything for the host West Blue Knights to combat, taking a 6-1 victory at JFK Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 9.

But at first, and well into the second period, West maintained a precarious hold on the lead, thanks largely to Mike West.

The junior goalie turned aside 16 shots in the first 24 minutes of action, thwarting odd-man rushes and pointblank attempts from a relentless Salem group.

In the meantime, the Blue Knights took a 1-0 lead 5:30 into the match when junior Andrew Sterling beat Salem’s sophomore keeper, Robert Liberatore, on assists from classmates Devin Greaney and Brad Sommer.

Salem’s head coach, Mark McGinn, said he didn’t need to chastise his players during the first intermission.

“We came out flat, no energy to speak of. We weren’t really excited,” said McGinn. “I didn’t have to say anything about that (in the locker room). The guys really picked up the pace from there.”

Indeed, Salem peppered West with 12 shots in the second period. Three found the mark. All were scored in a twominute span.

First, Ryan Desroches knocked in a rebound from Joel Vastl’s shot, knotting the score 9:19 into the period.

Just 34 seconds later, Michael Frahm, sandwiched by two Blue Knights, managed to push the puck past West for a 2-1 Salem lead. Seniors Derek Tomes and Joshua Frahm assisted on the sophomore’s go-ahead goal.

The deluge concluded 1:07 later when Vastl tipped in Mark Baroni’s left-handed blast from near the blue line. Desroches also earned an assist.

From that point, Salem and West players became testy, leading to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Blue Devils after the second period ended.

That meant the Blue Knights took the ice in the third period with a power-play opportunity.

Instead of West cutting into the lead, the game was effectively decided on two short-handed tallies.

Joshua Frahm picked off an errant pass and, 10 seconds into the third, gave Salem a 4-1 edge. About one minute later, Desroches scored his second goal on another Josh Frahm helper.

West’s first-year head coach, Bob Rougier, replaced his goalie when Derek Tomes capped the scoring with less than five minutes remaining. Tyler Vigue assisted on that goal.

Rougier, though frustrated by another uneven effort, was pleased with West’s night between the pipes, as well as what he called aggressive, intelligent play from Keith Pilotte and Jon St. Charles, both juniors.

“He does what the coaches tell him to do,” said Rougier of St. Charles. “He’s a leader out there.”

West owns victories against .500 Pinkerton and secondplace Hanover, and Rougier absolutely expects a postseason appearance by his team. However, he said the group, which currently has only two reliable lines, must continue to develop a third line and avoid the lapses that proved insurmountable against Salem.