Michael Outzen scored two goals and Chris Garbe had two points to help lead the visiting New Jersey Titans to a 5 – 2 win over the Jamestown Rebels.
After a scoreless first period, it was the wild west in the second where six of the games seven goals occurred with the Titans converting on their two power play chances.
Matt Cameron started the scoring just 4:13 into the middle stanza to put the Titans on the board. After Rebels forward Noah Finstrom brought the puck into the Titans zone, he reversed at the half wall and went to send the puck across ice and back to the point, but it was intercepted by Cameron. Cameron skated up along the near side boards and into the Rebels zone and behind their net. As Cameron skated around, he took a sharp angle shot that beat Jamestown’s goalie Noah West high, short side for this twelfth goal of the season.
The Rebels tied the game at 7:21 into the second period. After Tyler Nasca took a shot from the far side point that was blocked out front of the Jamestown net, the loose puck was picked up Rebels defenseman Spencer Cosway who passed it up to Nick Siffringer. Siffringer skated through center ice and into the Titans zone on an odd man rush. As Siffringer gained the line, he passed the puck to Eric Olson on his right. Olson took a shot that was saved by Patrick Pugliese, but the rebound came out to Siffringer who backhanded the puck past a fallen Pugliese and into the net.
With 10:56 left in the period, Jamestown’s Renars Karkls was called for tripping to give the Titans the man advantage. Thirty-three seconds later the Titans regained the lead on Gavin Gulash’s fourth goal of the season.
Shane Haviland picked up the loose puck along the far side half wall and brought it behind the Jamestown net and passed it up to Kyle Jeffers at the near side faceoff dot. Jeffers passed it down low to Garbe in the slot. Garbe took a quick shot that was saved by West, but the rebound came right out to Gulash who tucked in the rebound into the open net to give the Titans a 2 – 1 lead.
Just twenty-four seconds after the Titans took the lead, Karkis again was called for tripping to put the Titans back on the power play. As time was winding down with the man advantage, Outzen hit the back of the net for his first of the night.
Ole Andersen dumped the puck into the Jamestown zone where it was picked up by defenseman Seth Bergeron along the near side half wall. Bergeron went to clear the puck, but it was intercepted at the point by Outzen. The Highlands Ranch, CO native turned and lobbed a shot on net that caught West by surprise and beat him glove side to give the Titans a 3 – 1 lead.
With 7:06 remaining in the middle stanza, the Rebels cut the Titans lead in half. Karkls kept the puck in the Titans zone at the far side point and he passed it over to Nate Clark on his left, but the wayward pass bounced off the boards and down low to Liam Hansson. Hansson sent the puck back to Zach Brydges at the top of the faceoff dot and he passed it over to Karkis on his right. Karkis took a wrist shot that beat Pugliese long side to make it a 3 – 2 game.
The Titans regained their two-goal lead with 3:31 left in the period on Outzen’s second of the night. Mac Wiseman picked up the loose puck in his own zone and brought it behind his net to set up the play. Wiseman passed it up to Cam Gendron at his own near side blueline who sent a cross-ice pass to Mitch Machlitt. As Machlitt cut towards center ice and gained the line, he sent a pass back to Outzen at the far side point. Outzen took a shot on net, but the puck went off Cosway’s skate and through West’s five hole to give the Titans a 4 – 2 lead.
Garbe closed out the scoring with an empty net, shorthanded goal with fifty-seven seconds remaining in the game.
Pugliese, who played very well and kept the Titans in the game in the first period, stopped 23 of 25 shots while West turned aside 21 of 25. Click here for the box score.
The two teams will meet again tonight at 7:05 PM at the Northwest Arena.