Photo Credit: Tom Smith
The New Jersey Titans gave up three goals in the third period of a 5-2 loss, dropping its second straight game to the Philadelphia Rebels Saturday night at Middletown Sports Complex.
Nick Boyagian opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal early in the second period, but the Rebels responded with two in the final five minutes to give their team the lead.
Down 2-1 after two periods, the Titans came into the third looking for the tying goal. Things fell apart quickly, however, when Konur Peterson scored 53 seconds into the final frame. Philadelphia went on to score two more goals and cruised to its second victory over the Titans in as many nights.
“The guys were all on their own page, and that’s never a recipe for success, never mind when you’re playing a top-end team like the Rebels,” said Titans head coach Craig Doremus.
Aaron Maguyon and Ryan Patrick paced the Rebels’ offense with a goal and an assist each, leading the team to its third straight win.
Tempers flared early in the game as Kyler Head dropped the gloves with Philadelphia forward Austin Martz. Both players traded their fair share of haymakers, but it was Head who received the game misconduct for instigating.
“Kyler was challenged by the opposing player and he answered the bell. I think there’s part of that in the game still and you have a tough physical game like that where it’s chippy, that stuff is going to happen,” Doremus said.
Late in the third period with the Titans down by two, Ryan Wheeler went toe-to-toe with Auggie Moore. Each side received a five minute major and ten minute misconduct for the bout.
“It was a frustrating weekend out of us. We’re trying to climb in the standings and going down, I think it was 3-1 at the time, I think I let my temper get the best of me a little bit. When I was asked to go, I took it,” Wheeler said of the fight.
The Titans are now 4-4-0 against the Rebels this season, and their record drops to 17-15-2 with Saturday night’s loss. Matt Ladd stopped 27 of 32 shots in the losing effort while Rebels’ goaltender Ryan Keane made 32 saves to earn his second win in as many nights.
Justin Bofshever scored at 17:01 of the third period to pick up his first goal with the team since being traded from the Janesville Jets. Meanwhile, Boyagian’s shorthanded goal snapped a string of four games where he was held without a point.
“It was a good forecheck by (Ryan) Naumovski, I got the puck and was looking for him in the slot the whole time but I saw guys coming back on him so I just wrapped it as quick as I could,” Boyagian said about his goal. “I’m hoping my cold streak is done, so hopefully I get back on the board and help out the team a little more.”
The Titans will look to rebound with another home-and-home against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights. They go on the road for a 2:30 p.m. game on Thursday before returning to Middletown for a Friday night contest.