Weekend preview: 12/4 – 12/5; Titans square off against Black Bears

Dec 3, 2020

The Titans will be traveling to Abingdon, MD this weekend to play two games against the Black Bears. Friday night’s game is scheduled to begin at 7:30PM and 8:30PM on Sunday night with the games being held at Ice World in Abingdon.

Titans and Black Bears Preview
The last time these team played was back on November 14 when Nate Boak and Jake Suede scored in a shootout to give the Titans a 3 – 2 win. The season series is split with each team winning two games and each team having a shootout win. Each team has scored 14 goals. Until this weekend, all four games have been played at the Middletown Sports Complex.

Maryland’s Daniel Colabufo has the most points against the Titans with five (2 goals and 3 assists). Jude Kurtas and Colabufo each have scored two goals against New Jersey. The Black Bears are scoreless on the powerplay against the Titans (0 for 7). Maryland’s goaltending has a combined 2.89 goals against average and .904 save percentage against the Titans.

Stephen Willey has the most points against Maryland with four (1 goal and 3 assists) while Joe Schubert has the most goals (three). The Titans are 2 for 12 (17%) on the powerplay against the Black Bears while goalies Berk Berkeliev and Louden Hogg have a combined 3.12 goals against average and .916 save percentage.

Black Bears Overview
Maryland currently leads the East Division with a 7-3-1-1 record for 16 points (three more than the Titans). They are coming off a two-game home sweep over the Johnstown Tomahawks. They have won four in a row and they are 6 – 4 in their last ten games. The Black Bears have scored 43 goals on the season (second in the league) while they have allowed 39 (21st in the league). Maryland is 4 for 47 (8.5%) on the powerplay (21st in the league). They have four short-handed goals allowed. The Black Bears are 85.3% efficient on the penalty kill (ninth in the league).

Hunter McCoy leads Maryland in total points with twelve (6 goals and 6 assists). Luke Mountain and McCoy each have six goals to lead the team. Thomas Jarman has two game winning goals. Bryan Huggins and Cam Gaudette each have a team high +6. Seth Bergeron leads the team in penalty minutes with 35.

Maryland’s goaltenders have a combined 2.93 goals against average and .912 save percentage with no shutouts.

Titans Overview
The Titans are currently in fourth place in the East Division with a 4-5-1-4 for 13 points. Unfortunately, the Titans have the most shootout losses in the North American Hockey League. They are coming off a 3 – 2 home shootout loss to Johnstown. They have lost three straight (all against the Tomahawks), and they are 3 – 7 in their last ten games (four of the seven losses have been in a shootout). New Jersey has scored 39 goals on the season (fourth in the league) while they have allowed 49 (second to last in the league). The Titans have converted on 14.9% (7 for 47) on the powerplay (13th in the league). They have four short-handed goals allowed. The Titans are 84.6% efficient on the penalty kill (tenth in the league).

Defenseman Tyler Nasca leads the team with nine total points (2 goals and 7 assists) while Evan Werner has the most goals (six). Three different players have scored a game winning goal. Anthony Mollica has a team best of +4 while Matthew Iasenza leads the team in penalty minutes with 26.

Berkeliev and Hogg have a combined 3.12 goals against average and .910 save percentage with no shutouts.