PITTSTON, Pa. – The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights held on to win 3-2 despite a late Titans comeback attempt to tie the game at Revolution Ice Centre.
Trailing by two in the third period, the Titans made it interesting in third period when Victor Ostling redirected a shot from Dakota Ford. It was Ostling’s second goal in his first two games with New Jersey having been acquired from the Aberdeen Wings earlier in the week.
Despite striking first, the Titans found themselves trailing at the first intermission.
Greg Malafronte scored his first career NAHL goal at 8:57 of the first period after hammering home a juicy rebound left from Knights’ goaltender Grant Valentine off a shot from Michael Gelatt.
Gelatt and Brad Becker recorded on an assist on the play.
However, the Titans lead only lasted 21 seconds when Tim Gelatt tied the game on a similar play. Jimmy Elser rushed up the left wing and threw the puck on net. Titans goalie Jack Berry made the initial save but the rebound came right to the stick of the former Titan with an open net.
The equalizing goal instantly turned the momentum towards the Knights’ favor and capitalized when Jacob Hamacher’s initial shot was headed wide and towards teammate Braden Brown. Somehow, Brown picked the puck out of midair and redirected it from a tough angle into the net. Berry had very little time to react.
Brown’s goal came at 10:54 of the first period.
Momentum stayed with the Knights in the second period as they added another tally when Berry stopped the initial shot and wound up on the stick of Brown for an easy put back. It was Brown’s second goal of the game.
Berry was given the hook immediately after, making way for Spencer Wright. Berry finished the night with 22 saves on 25 shots. Wright was able to stop all five shots he faced.
The Titans managed to outshoot the Knights despite outshooting them by 31-30 margin.
Next Friday, the Titans will face Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on once more, as they’ll finish a five-game stretch against the Knights on the road. They’ll return home to Middletown Ice World the following night to face the Johnstown Tomahawks at 7:30 p.m.