The New Jersey Titans took their second and final regular season trip to the Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton, Maryland, this weekend to face the first place Maryland Black Bears. Despite earning a 2-0 in both games, the Titans came home without a win.
Friday night saw Kristofers Krumins find the back of the net 1:44 into the game with his 9th of the season. Dominick Bartecko doubled the lead at 6:04 on the power play with his 13th of the year, but that was all the offense would generate. A Maryland goal late in the period made it 2-1 going into the first intermission. The Black Bears would tie the game at 3:26 of the second period to draw level. The score remained the same until the Black Bears broke through with just over five minutes to play in regulation, and an empty net goal with 1:12 to go sealed the deal, sending Maryland to a 4-2 victory.
Saturday night the Titans were again led by goals from Krumins in the first period and Bartecko to begin the second, but three Maryland goals in under four minutes gave them the lead 5:53 into the period. A New Jersey timeout halted Maryland’s momentum, and Jack Hillier scored his 7th of the year late in the period to send the teams into the second intermission tied at 3. A comeback, however, was not in the cards, with three Black Bear goals in the third to send the Titans to their third consecutive lost.
Without any points in the standings, the Titans remain in 6th place in the division. A busy week lies ahead, as New Jersey will host the Danbury Jr Hat Tricks at home on Wednesday, January 31st at 7:30pm, before taking their first road trip to the Tri-Town Arenas in Hookset, New Hampshire, to finish the season series against the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. All games will be available to watch on NAHLtv.