The NAHL’s East Division leading Maine Nordiques visit the Middletown Sports Complex to play the New Jersey Titans for a two-game series. Friday’s game begins at 7:30 PM while Saturday’s puck drop is at 7:00 PM.
Nordiques and Titans Overview
This will be the second meeting between the teams this season, and the first at Middletown. The last time they met was at the end of October for a three games series at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee with Maine sweeping the series by a total score of 12 to 5. The second game of the series Nordiques won 2 – 1 in a shootout while the last game (October 25), Maine won 4 – 3.
Isaiah Fox leads the Nordiques with six points (3 goals and 3 assists) against the Titans. He also leads them in goals (three). Maine is 1 for 11 (9%) on the powerplay. The Nordiques goaltenders have a combined 1.62 goals against average and .954 save percentage against New Jersey.
Evan Werner has the most goals and points against Maine with three. The Titans also are 1 for 11 on the powerplay against this weekend’s opponent. Goaltenders Berk Berkeliev and Louden Hogg have a combined 3.57 goals against average and .900 save percentage against Maine.
Nordiques Overview
The Nordiques lead the East Division with a 15-8-1-0 record for 31 points. Maine is coming off a 4 – 1 road loss to the Maryland Black Bears, and they have won six of their last ten games. The Nordiques have scored 67 goals on the season (eighth in the league) while they have allowed 63 (thirteenth in the league). Maine is 15 for 88 (17.0%) on the powerplay (12th in the league), and they have allowed three goals while on the man advantage. The Nordiques are 87.5% efficient on the penalty kill (fourth in the league).
Stefan Owens (8 goals and 12 assists) leads Maine in total points with 20. Fox and Owens each have a team high eight goals. Tyler Gaulin has the most game winning goals with three. He also has a team best +10. Jack Strauss leads the team in penalty minutes with 72.
Maine’s Avery Sturtz and Tyriq Outen have a combined 2.51 goals against average and .927 save percentage with no shutouts.
Titans Overview
The Titans are currently in fourth place in the East Division with an 8-9-1-4 for 21 points (ten behind the Nordiques). They are coming off the 6 – 3 home loss to the Northeast Generals, and they are 4 – 6 in their last ten games. New Jersey has scored 72 goals on the season (fifth in the league) while they have allowed 77 (22nd in the league). The Titans have converted on 17.1% (14 for 82) on the powerplay (11th in the league). They have allowed five goals while on the man advantage. The Titans are 87.3% efficient on the penalty kill (sixth in the league).
Werner, who is in a five-way tie for first with the most goals scored in the league, leads the team with 21 total points (14 goals and 7 assists), goals (14) and game winning goals (two). Anthony Mollica has a team best of +12. Brad Zona has a team high 47 penalty minutes.
Berkeliev and Hogg have a combined 3.20 goals against average and .904 save percentage with no shutouts.