Super 8: Tyler Sifferlen's late power play goal lifts Malden Catholic past Catholic Memorial

BOSTON -- UMass Lowell recruit Tyler Sifferlen's power play tally with 2:08 to play in the game was the difference as No. 2 Malden Catholic escaped an upset bid by No. 7 Catholic Memorial and won, 4-3. The Lancers take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, heading to Wednesday's game two.

Malden Catholic jumped out front in the first period on a blast from the point by defenseman Will Lawrence who had received a pass from UNH recruit Ara Nazarian.

Catholic Memorial sophomore Paul Hardiman scored at 12:56 to even the score. He jammed away at a rebound off a Michael Stathopolous shot until it found its way past MC goaltender Alex Reissis.

A potential upset in the making gained some traction when junior power forward Aaron Clancy scored at 3:11 of the second period. He banned home a rebound after CM had stolen the puck from a MC defender in the corner.

Northeastern commit Matt Filipe answered right back, evening the score at two. He went in alone and backhanded the puck through the five-hole of Brandon Collett.

Sifferlen scored his first goal of the night on a breakaway late in the second period. As he was being hooked down, he somehow lifted the puck above the left shoulder of Collett to give the Lancers a 3-2 lead.

Hardiman scored his second of the night to knot the score at three with the assist again going to Stathopolous. It was his ninth goal of the season.

The potential upset was squashed when Sifferlen scored his second of the night on the man advantage with 2:08 to play. Defenseman John McLean connected a puck down to Sifferlen that managed to slip past two CM sticks.

Jeff Cox covers college, junior and high school hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.