It will be 33 days since the New Jersey Titans played their last game but tomorrow night they will resume action against the same team they last played against: the Maryland Black Bears.
It will be a two-game series with Friday night’s game starting at 7:30PM while Saturday’s game begins at 7:00 PM. Both games will be played at the Middletown Sports Complex.
Titans and Black Bears Preview
The two teams split a weekend series when they last played each other back on December 4 and 6. The Black Bears won the last game 5 – 4. Evan Werner had four points (3 goals and 1 assist) during those two games.
The teams have split their six-game series to date with each club winning a game by a shootout, although the Titans have outscored the Black Bears by a score of 24 – 20.
Maryland’s Daniel Colabufo has the most points against the Titans with seven (2 goals and 5 assists). Jude Kurtas and Grady Friedman each have scored three goals against New Jersey. The Black Bears are scoreless on the powerplay against the Titans (0 for 13). Maryland’s goaltending has a combined 5.30 goals against average and .896 save percentage against the Titans.
Stephen Willey, Jake LaRusso and Jack Ring each have five points against the Black Bears while Evan Werner and Ring each have scored four goals. The Titans are 4 for 22 (18%) on the powerplay against the Black Bears while goalies Berk Berkeliev and Louden Hogg have a combined 3.08 goals against average and .909 save percentage.
Black Bears Overview
Maryland is currently in third place in the East Division with an 8-4-2-1 record for 19 points (four more than the Titans). They are coming off a 3 – 2 overtime road loss to the Johnstown Tomahawks, and they have won five out of their last ten games. The Black Bears have scored 51 goals on the season (seventh in the league) while they have allowed 52 (17th in the league). Maryland is 4 for 58 (6.9%) on the powerplay (21st in the league). They have four short-handed goals allowed. The Black Bears are 85.2% efficient on the penalty kill (tenth in the league).
Hunter McCoy leads Maryland in total points with fourteen (6 goals and 8 assists). Luke Mountain and McCoy each have six goals to lead the team. Thomas Jarman and Kurtas each have two game winning goals. Cam Gaudette has a team high +7. Jarman leads the team in penalty minutes with 45.
Maryland’s goaltenders have a combined 3.21 goals against average and .910 save percentage with no shutouts.
Titans Overview
The Titans are currently in fourth place in the East Division with a 5-6-1-4 for 15 points. They are coming off the 5 – 4 road loss to the Black Bears, and they are 4 – 6 in their last ten games. New Jersey has scored 49 goals on the season (eighth in the league) while they have allowed 55 (19th in the league). The Titans have converted on 15.8% (9 for 57) on the powerplay (15th in the league). They have four short-handed goals allowed. The Titans are 86.7% efficient on the penalty kill (eighth in the league).
Werner leads the team with 14 total points (9 goals and 5 assists) and goals (nine). Anthony Mollica has a team best of +6 while Brad Zona and Matthew Iasenza each have a team high 26 penalty minutes.
Berkeliev and Hogg have a combined 3.10 goals against average and .908 save percentage with no shutouts.