Weekend Preview: November 26 & 27 – Titans host Nordiques for two-game series

Nov 26, 2021

The Titans will host the Maine Nordiques this Thanksgiving weekend for a two-game series beginning tonight at the Middletown Sports Complex. This evening’s game starts at 7:30PM while tomorrow night’s puck drop is at 7:00 PM.

Nordiques vs. Titans Overview
This two-game series will be the third and fourth meetings between the teams. The Titans won the previous two contests by a combined score of 16 – 6. The last time they met was back on October 22 and 23 at the Middletown Sports Complex. Tyler Gaulin leads Maine with three total points (2 goals and 1 assist) against the Titans. The Nordiques have yet to score on their five chances on the powerplay, and their goaltenders have a combined 8.00 goals against average and .831 save percentage.

Since the first meeting between the team’s, Maine has replaced head coach Nolan Howe with long time assistant coach Matt Pinchevsky.

Marcus Sang (3 goals and 3 assists) and Blake Farrell (2 goals and 4 assists) each have six points against Maine while Michael Young and Sang have three goals against them respectively. The Titans are 1 for 10 (10%) on the powerplay, and Andrew Takacs (who has played in both games) has a 3.00 goals against average and .911 save percentage.

Nordiques Overview
Maine is currently in sixth place in the East Division with an 8-10-0-2 record for 18 points. The last time they played was Tuesday and Wednesday of this week when they split a two-game home series against the Northeast Generals. Northeast beat the Nordiques on Wednesday 5 – 3. Maine has won three of their last ten games, including two losses against the Titans. The Nordiques have scored 60 goals on the season (20th in the league) while they have allowed 78 (22nd in the league). Maine is 19 for 83 (22.9%) on the powerplay (ninth in the league), and they have allowed a league high six goals while on the man advantage. The Nordiques are 79.4% efficient on the penalty kill (21st in the league), and they have scored one shorthanded goal.

Gaulin leads the Nordiques with 15 total points (5 goals and 10 assists) while Zion Green has a team high six goals. Seven different players have scored a game winning goal. Dom Marcinkevics has a team high +5 while Caden Pattison has the most penalty minutes on the team with 57.

Maine’s goaltenders have a combined 3.66 goals against average and .899 save percentage with one shutout (Gus Holt).

Titans Overview
The Titans are currently tied for first place with the Maryland Black Bears in the East Division with a 15-8-1 record for 31 points, although the Black Bears have two-games in hand. The Titans are coming off a 6 – 1 road loss to the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (the teams split last week), and they have won 8 of their last 10 games. New Jersey has scored 85 goals on the season (3rd in the league) while they have allowed 72 (20th in the league). The Titans have converted on 15.1% (14 for 93) of their chances on the powerplay (22nd in the league), and they have allowed four goals while on the man advantage. The Red Buckets are 83.7% efficient on the penalty kill (12th in the league). The Titans have scored four shorthand goals.

Tommy Bannister leads the team (and league) with 31 total points (12 goals and 19 assists) and goals (12). Anthony Calafiore has scored the most game winning goals with four. He also has a team high +16. Blake Farrell has a team high 86 penalty minutes.

The Titans goaltenders have a combined 2.97 goals against average and .901 save percentage with no shutouts.