Hudson's Zack Graham is stopped cold on a superb save by Auburn goalie Evan Lockwood

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Conner Brochu goes in all alone but is stopped by Shane Barry

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

First period action as the Rockets Trevor Standring carries the puck into Hudson's zone

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Late in the game, the puck lies so close to the net but the Rockets couldn't put it past Barry who was outstanding for Hudson

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

AUBURN, Mass. - The Hudson High hockey team scored two goals 45 seconds apart late in the third period to defeat the Auburn-Millbury Hockey team 4-2 on Saturday night at the Horgan Arena in Auburn.

Tyler Kirby scored the game winner with just 3:34 left in the game for his third of the game after a shot from the point off the stick of Mitch Dube was stopped by Evan Lockwood. Kirby gathered up the rebound and tucked it in for the huge go ahead goal. He added the insurance goal with just 2:49 left, assisted by Tim Murphy and Blake Seymour.

It was a tough, physical, hard-fought game, both teams finishing checks and using a physical forecheck to garner chances. Hudson struck first and very quickly when, after an errant long range pass from Auburn skipped the length of the ice for icing, right off the face-off Hudson struck. Just 16 seconds into the game, Kirby scored his first goal of the game after getting the puck with assists from Seymour and Murphy. This combination would be trouble for Auburn all evening.

Just four minutes later, the Rockets had a golden opportunity to tie it up when Hudson's Tom Fahey made a bad clearing pass and it bounced right on the stick of Auburn's Conner Brochu. He walked right in and his shot for the corner was labeled, but Goalie Shane Barry made a beauty of a save to keep it 1-0. Hudson outshot the Rockets 11-9 in the period.

On a power play early in the second period, Auburn tied it up. Hudson had tried to clear the zone, the Rockets Mike Revane stopped it at the right point and unleashed a slap shot that appeared to change direction on the way into the net. So at the 14:18 mark the score was tied 1-1. There it would remain for the remainder of the period with both goaltenders putting in excellent performances. Auburn appeared to have gone ahead with just 0:43 seconds left, but the goal was disallowed because the puck was kicked in.

The third period also had a very early goal as Hudson again capitalized right off a face-off, at the 13:18 mark they moved the puck right in front of the goal the initial shot was blocked by Lockwood for a great save but then Bryan Carter got the rebound from the Alex Pantalone shot and buried it for a 2-1 lead.

A slew of penalties ate up the middle of the final period before Auburn would strike for the equalizer. With just 5:22 left, Trevor Standring collected a rebound and easily put it in to tie the score. It appeared that this one would be heading for another tie before Kirby netted his second and third of the game to put it away.

It is back to the drawing board for the Coach Glen Bombard's Rockets, who played well enough to win this one but came up short against a very solid and physical Hudson team.