MIDDLETOWN, N.J. – A fury of goals in the third period allowed the Titans to pull away from the Johnstown Tomahawks and ultimately win it 7-3.
The Titans have now won three-straight games against their archrival.
Just 21 seconds into the second period, the Titans were able to strike first. With the puck pinned up against the boards, Kegan Miller poked it free and left it for Andrew Durham who then scored. Durham snapped a shot that beat Johnstown goaltender Mitchell Gibson blocker side.
It didn’t take long for the Tomahawks to answer as Zak Galambos leveled the score when he roofed it past Jack Berry’s shoulder at 1:24 of the second period.
New Jersey proceeded to score three unanswered goals and led by three at the second intermission.
Keegan Miller came up a little gimpy after scoring the third goal of the game after a long outlet pass from Durham to Anthony Cusanelli. The Christian Brothers Academy alumnus deked and had Gibson committed when Cusanelli fed it to Miller for the easy tap in. Miller was grabbing for his mouth guard while his teammates came together to celebrate. He continued in the game.
Mike Gelatt then scored his second goal of the weekend and fifth of the season when he skated in on a rush with one defender on him. The puck somehow got thrown on net and got past Gibson.
Then it was Victor Ostling who capitalized on a rebound at 15:25 of the second period. Joseph Shuler and Bruno Birzitis recorded assists on the play.
Johnstown kept the game interesting when Austin Heakins pulled the Tomahawks within two. Berry made a tough save on shot from Galambos but Heakins was right there to capitalize on the rebound left in the goal crease.
Jesse Farabee and Adam Hascic also got on the score sheet while Cusanelli added his tenth of the season at 17:18 to seal the victory for the Titans.
The Titans improved to 13-4-1 on the season with 27 points and remain atop the East Division.
The Titans finished the night 1-for-5 on both the power play and penalty kill and 38 shots on goal while Jack Berry stopped 17 of Johnstown’s 20 shots.
First place will be on the line next weekend as the Titans will travel to Aston to face the Rebels who sit three points behind in second after beating Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a shootout.