ASTON, Penn. – The Titans now have a four-point lead in the NAHL East Division as they fought their way to a 2-1 victory against the Aston Rebels.
Much like it was the night before – there was little margin for error as both teams traded possession of the puck. Both teams headed to the dressing room scoreless and the Rebels outshooting the Titans by a 10-4 margin.
But it didn’t take long for things to get going in the second period. Not long after the puck dropped to start, the puck took a bounce that was over skated by a Rebel and allowed Anthony Cusanelli a golden chance. The Christian Brother’s Academy product was able to get the puck just over the shoulder of Rebel’s goaltender Darion Hansen.
The goal was Cusanelli’s 15th of the season and came just 36 seconds into the period. However, it didn’t open the floodgates. The period ended with the Titans holding a one-goal lead while getting outshot in period 9-6.
Then in the third period Ray Brice found some room to roam up the left wing and snapped a shot that beat Hansen glove side. Mike Gelatt and Jesse Farabee each got an assist on Brice’s team-high 16th goal of the year.
With more than half a period left to play, it gave the Titans some breathing room, but things got a little tenser as the Rebels pulled within one. Dom Garcia got one past Spencer Wright.
Wright finished the game with 30 saves as the Titans were outshot 31-15.
They now sit alone atop the East Division with 58 points to Aston’s 54 heading into next weekend’s three-game weekend against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights.
The Titans will be home for two of the three games with Saturday and Sunday at Middletown Ice World. Saturday is set for 7:30 p.m. while Sunday will be a 4 p.m. start.