PLATTSBURGH — The Saranac Lake Placid boys hockey team kicked off the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference season with a big win, taking down Saranac Central 7-4.

The game was the league opener for both teams, and special teams paved the way for the win as SLP buried four pucks on power plays and also added a short-handed goal.

SLP dominated the shot count, owning a 58-20 advantage, but the game was still close until late when SLP scored four times in the final period to pull away.

The teams were tied 3-3 entering the third period, SLP then jumped ahead 5-3, the Chiefs answered to cut their deficit to 5-4, and SLP then sealed the victory with the final two tallies of the night.

Rhett Darrah and Dustin Patterson scored first-period goals and Ben Munn found the back of the net in the second.

Hunter Wilmot and Tyler Hinckley scored SLP’s first pair of goals in the third period.

Hinckley’s tally came on the power play at the 7:43 mark of the third and proved to be the game-winner.

Austin Carpenter scored less than a minute later to pull the Chiefs to within a goal, and SLP then came through with two more goals, with Hinckley netting his second of the game and Dylan Amell rounding out the scoring with 2:14 left on the game clock.

The Chiefs entered the contest with a 4-0 non-league record. SLP improved to 4-1 overall with the win.

Anders Stanton recorded 16 saves between the pipes iin the victory, and Erick Frechette made 51 stops in goal for Saranac.