FRAMINGHAM--Scoring was at a premium in the opening round of the 2016 MHL Cup, a stark change from last year's brigade of offense on Day 1.

Just eight goals were tallied over the two games (not including a shootout goal), down from last year's offensive explosion of 20 goals through the first two days.

Outstanding goaltending from all four teams involved prevented either game from turning into a blowout, with St. John's Shrewsbury's Cory Splaine recording the high mark of 34 saves on the evening.

Catholic Memorial 3, St. John's Shrewsbury 1

The Knights (2-1), playing in just their second MIAA contest of the season, had plenty of rest coming into this game (CM hadn't played since Dec. 21 vs. St. Sebastian's of the ISL). It was evident the Knights had a bit more pep in their collective step, particularly during a second period in which they outshot the Pioneers (1-2-1) by a 19-5 margin.

But Splaine was on his A-game, giving up just one goal in the frame on the first shot he faced (a Will Schmidlein tally 43 seconds in). The junior goaltender stopped the next 18 shots he faced in the second period, as well as all seven in the third before he was pulled with a minute remaining for an extra attacker.

Joe O'Leary opened scoring for CM at 4:58 of the first period, a game in which it never trailed.

Tyler Reynolds scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season for SJS at 6:06 of the third to make it a 2-1 game, but the Pioneers could get no closer. Jack Dempsey added an empty netter with 12 seconds remaining to secure the win for the Knights and send them on to the MHL Cup Finals for the second year in a row.

CM won last year's opening round game over SJS as well, 7-3.

Scoring
First period CM: Joe O'Leary, 4:58 (Harry Morrill, Danny O'Connor), 1-0

Third period SJS: Tyler Reynolds, 6:06 (Ty Mathews, Jack Herlihy), 2-1; CM Jack Dempsey, EN, 14:48 (unassisted), 3-1

Framingham 2, Marshfield 2 (Framingham wins shootout)

Rams assistant coach James Luongo told My Hockey Live during pregame he was hoping for a tighter, more physical game than last year's 5-5 goal scoring exhibition between the teams on Day 1 of the MHL Cup.

He got exactly what he wanted and then some as the teams skated to a 2-2 tie, the game featuring more highlight reel saves and fewer defensive miscues than last season.

Jack Murphy got Marshfield out to a 1-0 lead at 10:15 of the first period on a power play goal from the point, the puck deflected on its way in and fluttering past Flyers netminder Alex Moore.

Sophomore Mike Tersoni evened things for Framingham with a power play tally of his own at 4:46 of the second on a backhander that slipped past Nevan Costello.

Tersoni, who also scored the game-winner for the Flyers in the sixth round of the shootout, was perhaps the most dynamic player on the ice last night at Loring Arena, He played an outstanding physical game, landing a number of clean body checks, while unveiling his entire arsenal of weaponry in the shooting game: slapshots, wristers, and the backhander which led to his goal.

Marshfield was forced to bump up freshman Max Burum from the fourth line into regular shifts in the third period after some injuries. The diminutive freshman tied the game at 2-2 at 4:12 of the period on a slapper from atop the slot, beating Moore five-hole for his first career goal and point.

The teams exchanged a bevy of chances as the third period went on and into overtime, with Marshfield's leading scorer Aidan Connolly (4-5--9) doing everything he could to lift the Rams back to the MHL Cup Finals. Marshfield had a four-minute power play spanning the final 2:07 of regulation and first 1:53 of OT, but failed to solve Moore.

A shootout it was, with Tersoni providing the heroics and sending Framingham to the MHL Cup Finals for the first time.

Scoring

Third period Framingham: Anthony James, 2:35 (Nik Pagano), 2-1 Framingham; Max Burum, 4:12 (unassisted), 2-2