Sometimes, you need a goaltender to bail you out.

In just his sophomore season, Swampscott boys hockey goalie Dom Pappalardo made 50 saves against Essex Tech – helmed by Peabody’s Mark Leonard – to salvage a 3-3 tie in Saturday’s game at Essex Sports Center in Middleton.

The Big Blue moved to 3-0-2 on the season, and there was offense, too. Jackson Bartram tucked two goals, while Will Roddy tied the game late in the third period.

Swampscott travels to face Masconomet on Wednesday with puck-drop set for 8:05 p.m.

BOYS HOCKEY

Marblehead 6
Melrose 0

Talk about an offensive explosion. Marblehead shot its way past Melrose, 6-0, with five goal-scorers at Salem State’s O’Keefe Center.

Kyle Hart scored two goals and dished out an assist. Other scoring Headers were Hogan Sedky, Crew Monaco, Charlie Grenier, and James Caeran, while Avin Rodovsky, James Mackenzie, and London McDonald contributed with helpers.

Leo Burdge registered an 18-save shutout for Marblehead, which visits Medford at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Minuteman 5
Lynn 4

Despite versatile scoring from Jayden Leblanc, Brian Boisson, Tyler Whitten, and Riley Driscoll, the Jets dropped a road game against Minuteman. Andres Lopez and Kyle Furlong recorded assists in the loss.

Gloucester 6
Lynnfield 2

Jack Carpenter got things rolling with a goal in the first, but Gloucester regained the lead, 2-1, after the period – and then some.

The Fishermen potted six goals to dominate Lynnfield, despite Jarrett Scopettuolo of the Pioneers feeding Tim Sullivan late in the game on a power play.

Lynnfield will have some time to reset before Saturday’s game at Rockport (8 p.m.).

BOYS BASKETBALL

Methuen 85
St. John’s Prep 80

The St. John’s Prep basketball team cut a 17-point deficit to one point, but fell to Methuen in the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Tournament. Mike Miller of the Eagles won the Ted Boudreau Sixth Player Award, while Quinn Gregoire received the Coaches Award.