The visiting Northeast Generals scored five second period goals en route to a 7 – 3 win over the New Jersey Titans. It was the first time in six games this season that the Generals had defeated the Titans. The loss also spoiled the debut of new Titans goaltender Ryan McInchak.
The Titans took a quick lead just forty-five seconds into the game. After Michael Outzen won the draw deep inside the Generals zone, the puck went back to Mitch Machlitt directly behind Outzen and Machlitt sent it back to the near side point to Danny Dimon. Dimon sent it over to Brad Zona who took a snapshot from the top of the faceoff circle that was saved by Northeast goalie Joey Stanizzi but the rebound came right out to Machlitt who tucked it in past Stanizzi to make it 1 – 0 Titans.
It was Machlitt’s first goal in ten games.
New Jersey doubled its lead at 9:19 of the opening period. After McInchak went behind his own net to set up the puck, he passed it up along the near side boards where it was picked up by Machlitt at the half wall. Machlitt passed it up to Matthew Iasenza at the point who sent a cross-ice pass to Outzen. As Outzen gained the offensive zone line, he went to net and passed it over to Iasenza on his left and Iasenza redirected the puck passed Stanizzi for his eleventh goal of the season.
The Generals then cut their deficit in half with 3:23 remaining in the first period. After Charlie Reid won the draw deep inside the Titans zone, the puck went back to Michael Heneghan at the point who dumped into the far side corner where it was picked up by Reid. Reid passed the puck out to Ryan Kuzmich at the faceoff dot and Kuzmich passed it down low to Alexander Tertyshny who was to the right of McInchak. Tertyshny centered the biscuit out front to Reid and he backhanded it past McInchak and into the open net for his fourth goal of the season.
Trailing 2 – 1 going into the second period, the Generals would score five of their next six goals in the middle stanza to pull away from the Titans.
Tertyshny tied at the game at the 4:24 mark. The son of former Philadelphia Flyer Dmitri Tertyshny picked up the loose puck in his own high slot and passed it up to Kyle Schroeder on his left. Schroeder passed the puck over to Clark Kerner who entered the offensive zone. As Kerner reached the bottom of the near side faceoff dot, he made a centering pass out front that was redirected by Tertyshny past McInchak for his first goal as a Northeast General.
Northeast would take the lead with 9:23 into in the second on Cam Gaudette’s seventh goal of the season. Former General Joe Nagle dumped the puck into the Northeast zone where it was picked up by Stanizzi to the left of his own net. Stanizzi made a long outlet pass to Gaudette at the Titans far side blueline. As Gaudette gained the line, he moved towards the top of the slot and took a wrister that beat McInchak blocker side to make it 3 – 2 Generals.
Fourteen seconds later the Generals doubled their lead. After the ensuing faceoff, Kuzmich picked up the loose puck at center ice and dumped it into the Titans zone where McInchak stopped it behind his own net to set up the play. Hurried, McInchak sent the puck behind his own and into his near side corner where it was picked up by a hustling Kuzmich. Kuzmich sent it back Brady Hunter at the point. Hunter took a shot that went wide and hit the end boards, but the puck took a crazy bounce and came right out to the slot and Kuzmich wristed the biscuit through McInchak’s five hole for his second goal of the season.
Gavin Gulash made it a 4 – 3 game with 8:25 left in the second period. Matt Cameron intercepted a Generals pass just along the far side blue line and he sent a bounce pass off the boards where it was picked up by Gulash at the half wall. Gulash went to the net, cut across the goalmouth and backhanded the puck up high and past Stanizzi for his eleventh goal of the season.
Less than a minute later the Generals regained their two-goal lead on Reid’s second goal of the game and fifth of the season.
Dylan Schuett scored with forty-seven seconds left in the period to make it a 6 – 3 game. Kerner closed out the scoring with 2:17 left in the game to make it 7 – 3.
The loss ended the Titans five game win streak.
McInchak stopped 26 of 33 shots while Stanizzi turned aside 26 of 29. Click here for the box score.
The Titans now will go on a seven-game road swing with four of the games against the Jamestown Rebels beginning next weekend.