Stars keep playoff hopes alive with offensive explosion

The Squirt Stars entered their fifth playoff game knowing they had to win and would need help from other teams to continue into the semifinals.

They upheld their end of the bargain, exploding for a season-high number of goals in dispatching the Bruins, 8-1, on Sunday.

Ben Warda started the scoring by beating Bruins goalie Jeremy Schwab 88 seconds into the contest on a high wrist shot from the point.

Three minutes later, Ben Battaglia made a nice steal in his own zone, skated in alone on Schwab, and deposited the puck into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Jimmy Kirkpatrick, assisted by AJ Aquilino, extended the lead to three after scoring low through the five-hole. Craig McCabe accepted a tape to tape pass from Justin Bystrak from behind the net and knocked in the fourth goal from in close. All-star defenseman Steve Zaprowski ended the second period scoring by carrying the puck from end to end to make the score 5-0.

In the third period, the relentless Stars added a Bystrak backhand goal from eight feet, assisted by Zaprowski, a Zaprowski unassisted marker and a Kirkpatrick score before Tommy Heyden finally solved goalie Christian Aichinger to avert the shutout.

Outstanding plays were made by the Stars' Jonah Held, Neal Greiner, Dan Bounds, Christian Cretella, Heather Casselman, Patrick Irving and Samantha Degen.

Schwab made 15 saves and was aided by Peter Muffoletto, Matthew Lesinski, Frankie Bodami and Adam Arsenault.