Odessa forward Tanyon Bajzer scored a powerplay goal with fifty-eight seconds remaining in regulation to give the Jackalopes a 2 – 1 victory over the Titans in game one of this four game annual league Showcase. This is the first time in New Jersey’s eight-year history that they have started the season 0 – 3.
After a scoreless first period, Blake Farrell opened the scoring just fifty-two seconds into the middle stanza. It was Farrell’s first of the year and was assisted by Levente Keresztes – his first point of the year.
Odessa knotted the score at one when Logan Ganz scored an unassisted goal with 8:31 left in the second. It was Ganz’s first goal of the season.
With 1:12 remaining in regulation, Titans netminder Zak Brice made a point-blank glove save on Jackalopes forward Ryan Kelly. As a scrum ensued, Keresztes was called cross-checking to give Odessa the man advantage. Fourteen seconds later, Baizer scored the game winner.
After Odessa’s Jackson Hay brought the puck into the offensive zone along the far side boards, he passed it to Kelly in the slot. Kelly tried to redirect the puck past Brice but the biscuit went wide and hit the end wall. As the puck bounced off the glass, it bounced directly to Baizer, who was to the left of Brice, and he took a one-timer the beat Brice shot side for the game winning goal.
Brice stopped 26 of 28 shots while Odessa’s Quentin Sigurdson turned aside 22 of 23 shots. Click here for the box score.
The Titans will play the Janesville Jets tomorrow at 12:30PM ET in game two of this four game League Showcase.