The East Division leading Titans will be hosting the second place Maryland Black Bears beginning tonight for a two-games series. This evening’s contest begins at 7:30PM while tomorrow’s game will start at 7:00PM. There will be Skate Night with the Titans immediately following Saturday’s contest.
The Titans are coming off a three-game road swing. With ten games remaining in the regular season, eight of them are home at the Middletown Sports Complex.
Black Bears vs. Titans Overview
This will be games nine and ten between the teams. The Titans have won five of the previous eight by a combined score of 25 to 24. Two of the Titans victories have been in overtime. Each team has recorded a shutout.
The last time they played was on February 18 and 19 when the Titans swept the Black Bears (including a 3 – 0 shutout by Andrew Takacs) at the Piney Orchard Arena.
Branden Piku leads Maryland with 11 total points (5 goals and 6 assists) against the Titans and goals (5). Maryland is 4 for 29 (14%) on the powerplay against the Red Buckets while the Black Bears goalies have a combined 2.95 goals against average and .904 save percentage with one shutout (Michael Morelli on opening night).
Tommy Bannister (4 goals and 4 assists) and Brendan Dumas (2 goals and 6 assists) each have eight total points to lead the Titans against the Black Bears while Anthony Calafiore and Bannister each have scored four goals. The Titans are 7 for 32 (22%) on the powerplay against the Black Bears while the Titans netminders have a combined 2.95 goals against average and .910 save percentage with one shutout. Takacs has a 2.63 goals against average and .910 save percentage with one shutout against his old team.
Black Bears Overview
Maryland is currently in second place in the East Division with a 26-15-5-4 record for 61 points (thirteen behind the Titans). The Black Bears are coming off a 3 – 2 shootout home loss to the Jamestown Rebels (Jamestown swept Maryland last weekend), and they have won three of their last ten games. The Black Bears have scored 165 goals on the season (12th in the league) while they have allowed 141 (8th best in the league). Maryland is 26 for 165 (15.8%) on the powerplay (20th in the league), and they have allowed seven goals while on the man advantage. The Black Bears are 82.6% efficient on the penalty kill (11th in the league), and they have scored eight shorthanded goals (including one against the Titans).
Ryan Bottrill leads the Black Bears with 53 total points (15 goals and 38 assists) while Piku has scored the most goals (18). Tyler Young, Conor Cole and PIku each have three game winning goals. Piku also has a team high +28 while Laker Aldridge has the most penalty minutes on the team with 99.
Maryland’s goaltenders have a combined 2.56 goals against average and .911 save percentage with four shutouts (Luca Di Pasquo has three while Morelli has one (against New Jersey)).
Titans Overview
The Titans currently lead the East Division with a 36-12-2-0 record for 74 points. They are coming off a 5 – 2 road win over the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks), and they have won nine out of their last 10 games. New Jersey has scored 196 goals on the season (second in the league) while they have allowed 137 (6th in the league). The Titans have converted on 18.2% (31 for 170) of their chances on the powerplay (16th in the league), and they have allowed six goals while on the man advantage. The Red Buckets are 82.4% efficient on the penalty kill (12th in the league). The Titans have scored eight shorthand goals.
Bannister leads the team with 57 total points (20 goals and 37 assists) while Calafiore has the most goals (22). Calafiore also has a team best six game winning goals. David Posma has a team (and league) best +39. Blake Farrell has a team high 135 penalty minutes.
The Titans goaltenders have a combined 2.66 goals against average and .9101 save percentage with three shutouts (Andrew Takacs).