Belmont, Watertown skate to 1-1 tie

No bragging rights will be assigned this time around.

The stage was set for the Watertown and Belmont hockey teams to square off Monday, Jan. 19, in the latest edition of the fiercest rivalry in Middlesex League athletics, but Watertown junior Tyler Gardiner’s sixth goal of the season offset Dave Bailey’s opener, and some excellent goaltending on both sides left things knotted, 1-1, when all was said and done.

Watertown senior Anthony Busconi (34 saves) and Belmont sophomore Cal Christofori (32 saves) went save for save down the stretch, with each making multiple key saves late. Christofori had a lot to do throughout the third period, while Busconi shut the door in the final minutes to keep his team alive.

Busconi was busy in the first period, turning away 10 shots. Bailey put the visitors on the board first as a loose puck in the crease dropped to the Marauder forward, who buried it with 4:24 remaining.

The first 15 minutes were all Belmont, but the Raiders came up swinging in the second period. With two Marauders in the penalty box, Watertown capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play when junior Tyler Poulin slid a perfect pass to Gardiner, who was wide open to fire a one-timer past Christofori and even the game at 1.

Gardiner very nearly put his team in front just moments later, but an open shot from the slot was met by an impressive glove save from Christofori.

The Raiders appeared to have the go-ahead goal in the form of senior Jeff Comeau, but despite Christofori left sprawling and the net wide open, the Raider winger could only ring the crossbar from 3 feet out.

The final period was a goaltending clinic, as both Busconi and Christofori refused to budge, making 12 saves each to keep the game even.

The tie leaves the Raiders at 5-2-3, still alive in the race to defend their Middlesex League title, as they travel to Woburn on Jan. 24.

–Jan. 19, 2014–