The New Jersey Titans split its last two road games against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knight this past weekend, losing 8-1 on Friday and rebounding with a 5-1 victory on Saturday. Tonight, they return to Middletown for their final three home games of the regular season.
It will be the final matchup of the regular season between the Titans (28-20-9) and the Knights (29-23-6), though there is a chance that tonight will serve as a foreshadowing of first round of the Robertson Cup Playoffs.
On Friday, the Titans lost by a score of 8-1 despite pouring on 53 shots on goal. Knights goaltender David Tomeo made 52 saves while three players–Adrian Danchenko, Tyrone Bronte and Reed Robinson–recorded three points each. Wade Novak scored the only Titans’ goal early in the second period, but the Knights responded with five unanswered goals to run away with the victory.
Brandon Perrone had the start for that game, but was taken out after Michael Morrissey crashed into him on the Knights’ third goal and was replaced by Matt Ladd. Both goalies made 19 saves in the losing effort.
Ladd was given the nod the following night where the Titans flipped the script and blitzed the Knights by a score of 5-1. Kyle Jeffers notched two goals while Chris Garbe, Matt Cameron and Gavin Gulash tacked on goals as well. Zach Faremouth (two assists) and Hunter Alden (three assists) had multi-point performances in the victory as well. For the Knights, David Tomeo gave up four goals on 18 shots and was replaced by Christian Stoever in the second period, while Tyrone Bronte scored the Knights’ only goal.
In those two games, the Titans were missing Ryan Naumovski and Tate Singleton due to injury. As a result, Titans’ tender Nathan Albrecht returned to the lineup while Rece Bergeman made his debut with the team. The Deleware native played with the Titans 16U and 18U squads in the past, and spent this season with the Iowa Wild AAA U18 team.
According to Titans head coach Craig Doremus, Singleton and Naumovski–the first and fourth highest-scorers on the team respectively–are expected to return to the lineup tonight barring a last-minute setback.
Tonight will be the first of the Titans’ final three home games this season. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. tonight against the Knights, then New Jersey will host the Northeast Generals this Friday and Saturday to wrap up the regular season.