The Titans scored four, first period goals en route to a 6 – 2 win over the visiting Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks in a matinee game this afternoon at the Middletown Sports Complex.
Evan Werner, who earlier in the day was named honorable mention for forward of the month for January, opened the scoring just 1:48 into the first period. As Werner gained the offensive line, he took a shot that was saved by Danbury’s Andrew Pichora but the rebound came out to Jack Ring in the near side corner. Ring sent the puck back to Brad Zona at the point, and the assistant captain took a shot on net that deflected off a Hat Tricks defender and directly to Werner who wristed the biscuit pass Pichora for his fifteenth goal of the season.
Danbury tied the score at 5:30 into the first. The Hat Tricks’ Luke Wheeler won the draw at the Titans near side faceoff circle and the puck came directly back to Shane Murphy who took a wrist shot that beat Berk Berkeliev long side for his first goal of the season.
At 9:41 into the opening period, Pichora was called for a delay of game to give the Titans the man advantage. Seven seconds later Jake Suede gave New Jersey a 2 – 1 lead. After the ensuing faceoff won by Suede, the puck was picked up by Stephen Willey who took a shot on net that was saved by Pichora who made a successive save on Zach Nazzarett but Nazzarett’s rebound came out to Suede and the captain buried the puck into the open net for his third goal of the season.
Caleb Price doubled the Titans lead with 2:35 remaining in the first. As Danbury tried to breakout of their own zone along the far side boards, Suede intercepted the puck at the near side blueline. As he skated to the faceoff circle, he made a centering pass to Price at the top of the slot and the defensemen went to the net and took a wrist shot that beat Pichora short side for his second goal of the season.
Thirty-two seconds later Nick Seitz made it a 4 – 1 game. Tyler Nasca picked up the loose puck at the top of his own slot and passed it up to Nazzarett along the near side boards. As Nazzarett gained the line, he slid the puck towards the goal line to the left of Pichora where it was picked up by Nasca. The Titans defenseman took a sharp angle shot that was saved by Pichora but Seitz tucked in the loose puck behind Pichora for his second goal of the season.
After a scoreless second period, Nazzarett gave the Titans a 5 – 1 but Wheeler made it a 5 – 2 game. Seitz closed out the scoring to make it a 6 – 2.
Berkeliev stopped 51 of 53 shots while Danbury’s goaltenders combined 41 of 46. Click here for the box score.
The Titans are back at it tomorrow night with a home game against the Johnstown Tomahawks. Game time is 7:00 PM.