The Middlebury men's ice hockey team outshot Salem State 26-9 in the third period, but the Vikings tacked on two late goals to defeat the Panthers 4-1 in the Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational Championship. Middlebury advanced to the final after topping SUNY Canton 5-2 on Saturday.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Salem State looked to take the lead 4:20 into the contest. Jon Waselko wound up and fired a shot near the left faceoff dot. Panther netminder Conor Sullivan stood his ground, staying glued to the left post to make the stop.
• Jackson Morehouse nearly put Middlebury in front at the 13:54 mark, grabbing a loose puck that bounced off a Vikings' skate and slicing a one-timer that Will Nepveu thwarted. 
• Salem State took a 1-0 edge with 12:26 remaining in the period. Zach Dill sent a backhanded pass from center ice to Ryan Barrett, who raced up the left side. Barrett skated to the left post and slid the puck past Sullivan's pad.
• Salem State increased its lead 2:34 into the second period during a power play. Landyn Greatorex sent a cross-ice pass to James Tatro in the left corner, who sent a one-timer that sailed past a diving Sullivan to make it a 2-0 game. 
• Middlebury answered at the 6:54 mark. Ryan Pineault sent a pass toward Andrew Seaman at the right point, who fired into a cluster of players. Dante Palombo tipped Seaman's attempt into the bottom left corner to cut the deficit to one (2-1).
• The Vikings nearly extended their lead back out to a pair with 4:40 left. Despite being a skater down, Rais Francis forced a turnover deep in the Panther's defensive end. Tatro collected the loose puck and wristed a shot that Sullivan blocked away.
• Middlebury kept the pressure up and gained a power play after an interference call went against the Vikings at the 17:07 mark. Reese Brednich tried his luck 41 seconds later, but Nepveu sprawled out and knocked the puck away from the crease.
• Jin Lee had the final opportunity with 1:44 to go in the second, firing a shot that bounced off Nepveu's chest and back into play. Leefired the rebound attempt, but it sailed wide as Salem State led 2-1 at the intermission.
• Middlebury jumped on its third power play just three minutes into the final frame and nearly tied the game. Lee cut into the teeth of the Viking defense and laced a shot that Nepveu deflected towards the right post. Revy Mack gathered and tapped a rebound attempt on the doorstep, but Nepveu smothered the chance with a snow angel move.
• Bobby May had a chance to tie the contest with 9:34 remaining, blitzing near the crease and flipping a shot that Nepveu smothered on the left post. 
• The Vikings would put the game on ice with less than four minutes to go as Greatorex and Tatro tallied goals just 40 seconds apart to seal the 4-1 victory.

NOTES

• Palombo picked up his second goal, while Pineault and Seaman earned their second assists of the season.
• Sullivan tallied 23 saves in the loss for the Panthers.
• Mack was tabbed to the all-tournament team.
• Middlebury and Salem State faced off for the 36th time and the first time since the 2008-09 season. The Panthers hold a 19-14-3 edge in the series.

Middlebury returns home to Chip Kenyon '85 Arena against conference-foe Trinity on Friday at 7:00 p.m.