SMITHFIELD — La Salle boys hockey is heading toward its best week of the year.

The Rams were pushed to their limits against Moses Brown just two days after a lopsided win at Prout. The pair of victories reverse La Salle’s slow start, and in mid-January, the perennial state contenders are right where they need to be.

Chase Birmingham’s empty-net goal dashed the Quakers’ furious comeback for a 4-2 win on Friday night in Smithfield. The hosts also pushed past Prout, 9-1, at Boss Arena on Wednesday in their first full week of in-state matchups. Pilgrim, which has just two losses this winter, awaits on Saturday at Smithfield.

“It’s been a big week — huge for momentum,” La Salle’s JD Plante said. “It’s the first string of [in-state] games that we’ve played, so it’s big for momentum and bouncing back.

“We [can] use this to drive us and push us to the playoffs. We’re focused on the long run, so all of these games are big.”

Moses Brown dipped into La Salle’s two-goal lead with 5:37 left in regulation as Christian Coote cleaned up a stick-save rebound. A roughing penalty against La Salle, with about two minutes left, made for a tense third-period finish. But that’s what these two programs, and every team in the state, play for.

“It’s great, and it’s super nerve-racking,” Birmingham said of the final two minutes. “But our coaches put a lot of trust in us and it’s great that we’re working as a team. We’re taking what we learn in practice into the game and staying calm and aggressive.”

The visitors pulled their goalie for a two-skater advantage in the power play and La Salle goalie Jesse Humes saw 13 shots in the period. The senior stood tall, killed off the power play and Birmingham capped off the win with five seconds left.

Plante and Birmingham put La Salle up, 2-0, with 7:30 left in the second period as the Rams put Moses Brown under immediate pressure in the opening frame. It was the same play that had Prout on its heels from the start.

“It’s not only so much physically, it’s so much mentally where we keep our heads in,” Birmingham said. “We trust everyone, we trust [Humes] and know that just because we get one [goal], we can’t let down. We just keep pushing.”

The Quakers answered less than two minutes later, on the power play, when Matthew Azevedo slipped a pass to Joseph Magiera for a wrister from the slot. Momentum didn’t stay with the Quakers long as La Salle’s Luca Marenghi scored on a one-timer from the point.

The Rams’ offense and timely stops from Humes (21 saves) makes them as dangerous as anyone in the state tournament. And just like last season, there is plenty of parity in Division I. Hendricken (9-1) looks like the favorite to win a fifth straight title outright, but anything can happen at Schneider Arena. Moses Brown, with Alan Jaffe in net (41 saves against La Salle), also should be bound for another playoff run.

“It’s exciting knowing that you’re going to get a good game,” Humes said. “We’re building our energy and that means a lot to us. We’re in a really good headspace and we’re coming together great.”  

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: La Salle boys hockey against Moses Brown result from Jan. 16

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