While its 16-game winning streak was in jeopardy late in its game at the Howell High School / Matawan High School co-op squad, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School ice hockey team still left the Jersey Shore with yet another big triumph.
And in the midst of their magical 2024-25 season, the Panthers now stand alone with New Jersey’s longest outright winning streak: 17 games in a row without a single tie.
Howell-Matawan (10-6-3) threatened to extend its one-goal lead on an uncontested, shorthanded breakaway opportunity just under seven minutes into the third period against New Jersey’s ninth-ranked squad in Bridgewater-Raritan (19-1).
The puck was fumbled close to the Bridgewater-Raritan cage, and senior Shawn Yuhasz (one goal) immediately tied the game at the other end for Bridgewater-Raritan during its power play with 7:59 remaining.
Freshman Jason Rutkowski (two goals, one assist) then rocketed the go-ahead goal 90 seconds later, and with freshman goalie Justin Madison (33 saves) facing one last six-on-five attack by the host team, Rutkowski fired an empty-net goal in the closing seconds to seal Bridgewater- Raritan’s 6-4 comeback victory Monday, February 3, at Howell Ice Arena in Farmingdale.
“It helps motivate you to stop the puck when you’ve got a guy who’s scoring right there,” said Madison, who remained undefeated as the starting goalie. “I just tried to keep my eye on it, and make sure I stood in position.”