'Cats stay unbeaten by tripping Hudson.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Jay Gearan

GARDNER - The second period was nearly over last night and the No. 1-ranked Gardner High hockey team was trailing for the first time this season.

In the final 15 minutes and 38 seconds, however, the Wildcats rallied past No. 3 Hudson, 2-1, to extend their unbeaten streak to seven straight.

"Every time we play Hudson they always give us a run for our money," Gardner coach Jean-Guy Gagnon said. "This was a grind for us, and the kids just never gave up. I'd love to play 20 games like this. You can't be selfish or lazy in a game like this."

Gagnon, whose coaching career spans 33 years with several teams, said he could not remember any of his other teams starting 7-0. Hudson fell to 4-2-1.

Senior captain Corey Grenier and junior Andrew Johnson provided the scoring punch. Grenier tied the game with 38 seconds left in the second period on a screen shot from the left point.

At 6:24 of the third period, Johnson tipped in the winning goal from the low slot off a perfect feed from junior Jordan Davis.

Gardner senior goalie Mike Colcord rejected 20 Hudson shots. Hudson sophomore C.J. Flannery turned away 36 shots and kept the Hawks in upset mode all night.

The Wildcats peppered Flannery with 19 shots in the first period, five in the first two minutes alone. Flannery, however, had the answers on an assortment of glove, stick and blocker saves, frustrating solid bids by Gardner's Lucas Paine, Tyler Leger and Damian Blodgett.

Hudson's Cody Smith rattled the pipe with a solid shot early in the first period. It wasn't until 2:01 into the second period though when the scoreless streak ended when Hawks senior...