The New Jersey Titans scored three power-play goals in a 4-2 victory over the Maryland Black Bears at Piney Orchard Arena on Friday night.
Matteo Menotti picked up a goal and an assist in his first game against his former team while Kyle Jeffers scored the game-winning goal. Brandon Perrone made 18 saves in the Titans’ third consecutive win, and improved the team’s record to 22-18-0.
Things got off to a feisty start when Carter Wade and Spencer Stanley dropped the gloves just 1:31 into the contest. Wade threw a hit on Stanley that was deemed a charge by the officials, and the South Lyon, Mich. native took exception to it. The Titans went on the power play after the fight, but Maryland killed off the penalty.
The Black Bears went on the power play later in the period, and at 8:07, Quinn Warmuth flung a wrist shot through traffic for his fifth goal of the season. New Jersey responded quickly, however, when they went on the power play. Michael Outzen corralled the puck in the slot and dished a pass to Gavin Gulash on the right side, where he ripped a one-timer past David Tomeo. Recently named to the Top Prospects Tournament, Gulash now has four goals in his last three games.
Maryland regained the lead when Patrick Choi tapped a one-timer from the low slot and beat Perrone blocker side, giving Maryland a 2-1 lead at 16:51. Young dished the pass to Choi and picked up his second assist of the night.
Menotti knotted the score at two with a power-play goal at 7:08. Perrone sprang a long pass to Naumovski, who dished it to the former Black Bear as he made a slick move to the backhand. The Titans almost extended the lead when Chris Garbe nudged a backhander towards the goal with Tomeo out of position, but the goaltender reached out with his left skate and was able to keep it out.
With the score knotted at two in the third period, Perrone made his best save of the game on Jack Rudin. The Detroit, Mich. native received a pass as he was cutting to the goal, went to his left and tried to get it around Perrone. The Long Island native had other ideas as he stretched out the right pad to make a terrific save. Garbe skated the puck out of the zone and drew a penalty to send the Titans back on the power play.
Kyle Jeffers converted on the ensuing man-advantage when he corralled a bouncing puck in the slot and ripped a shot past Tomeo for his 21st goal of the season. Menotti picked up the primary assist for his second point of the night. Mitch Machlitt iced the game when he buried an empty-net goal at 18:29 for his 10th goal of the year.
The Titans have a chance to sweep the back-to-back and win four straight when they face the Black Bears again at 7:45 p.m. The game is available for streaming on hockeytv.com.
Photo Credit: Pete MacDonald (@PMacDonald51)