The Titans will travel to Odenton, MD later today to play a critical two-game series against the Maryland Black Bears at the Piney Orchard Arena beginning tonight. Should the Titans sweep the weekend series, the Titans will clinch a spot in the Robertson Cup playoffs with three games remaining in the regular season. Tonight, and tomorrow night’s games begin at 6:30 PM.
After this weekend series, the Titans have three games left – all on the road- in the regular season. They will play Danbury on May 4 and will travel to Attleboro, MA next weekend to close out the regular season against the Northeast Generals for a pair of games.
Black Bears vs. Titans Overview
The fourth place Black Bears enter this critical series three points behind the third place Titans. It will be the last time these teams meet during the regular season. They have had twelve prior contests with each team winning six games although the Titans have outscored the Black Bears by a combined margin of 43 – 37.
The last time the teams met was at the very beginning of April with the Black Bears sweeping a home-and-home series by a combined score of 9 – 2. Each team has won a game in a shootout, and Maryland has one shutout win (4 – 0 on April 2) over New Jersey.
Hunter McCoy leads the Black Bears with twelve total points (3 goals and 9 assists) against the Red Buckets while Jack Brackett has scored the most goals (four) against them. Maryland is 3 for 31 (10%) on the powerplay against New Jersey while their goaltenders have a combined 3.38 goals against average and .901 save percentage with one shutout (Hannes Kollen).
Evan Werner leads the Titans with ten total points (7 goals and 3 assists) and goals (7) against Maryland. The Titans are 7 for 45 (16%) on the powerplay against the Black Bears, and the Red Buckets netminders have a combined 2.80 goals against average and .918 save percentage with no shutouts.
Black Bears Overview
As previously stated, Maryland is currently in fourth place in the East Division with a 22-19-6-2 record for 52 points. They are coming off a 3 – 2 road loss to the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks, and they have won eight out of their last ten games. The Black Bears have scored 136 goals on the season (13th in the league) while they have allowed 145 (12th in the league). Maryland is 17 for 182 (9.3%) on the powerplay (worst in the league). They have eight short-handed goals allowed. The Black Bears are 87% efficient on the penalty kill (third in the league). They have scored eleven shorthanded goals (third in the league).
McCoy leads Maryland in total points with thirty-four (13 goals and 21 assists). Luke Mountain leads the team with fifteen goals. McCoy and Mountain each have game winning goals while McCoy has a team high +14, and he leads the team in penalty minutes (96).
Maryland’s goaltenders have a combined 2.76 goals against average and .918 save percentage with three shutouts (Michael Morelli has two and Kollen has one).
Titans Overview
The Titans are currently in third place in the East Division with a 24-18-2-5 record for 55 points. They are coming off a 9 – 2 home win against the Jr. Hat Tricks (the Titans swept Danbury last weekend), while they have won four of their last ten games. New Jersey has scored 178 goals on the season (fourth in the league) while they have allowed 161 (17th in the league). The Titans have converted on 20.8% (41 for 197) of their chances on the powerplay (7th in the league). They have allowed seven goals while on the man advantage. The Red Buckets are 83.8% efficient on the penalty kill (eighth in the league). The Titans have scored the most shorthanded goals in the league with 14.
Nick Seitz (17 goals and 24 assists) and Jake LaRusso (16 goals and 25 assists) each have 41 points to lead the Titans in total points while Evan Werner leads the team in goals (20). Werner, LaRusso and Seitz each have three game winning goals. Anthony Mollica has a team best +20. Brad Zona has a team high 119 penalty minutes.
The Titans goaltenders have a combined 3.08 goals against average and .915 save percentage with two shutouts (Christian Stoever and Loudon Hogg).