Evan Werner’s powerplay goal with 1:39 remaining in overtime gave the “visiting” New Jersey Titans a 3 – 2 win over the Northeast Generals.
After a scoreless first period, Alexander Tertyshny gave Northeast a 1 – 0 lead just 3:31 into the middle stanza. Tertyshny, the son of the late Philadelphia Flyer Alexander Tertyshny, picked up the loose puck along the far side boards just outside his own blueline. As he skated through center ice, he passed it up to Brent Keefer on his left. As Tertyshny gained the line, Keefer sent a return pass to Tertyshny and the defenseman took a wrist shot that beat Titans goalie Louden Hogg long side for his second goal of the season.
With 6:34 left in the second, Titans assistant captain Brad Zona was called for roughing to give the Generals the man advantage. With time winding down on the powerplay, Northeast defenseman Bobby Metz skated behind and around his own net and made a blind backhanded pass to the end boards where it was picked up by goaltender Hugo Haas. Haas passed the puck up to Kyle Schroeder at the far side half wall. As Schroeder was being pressured by Anthony Calafiore, Schroeder made a bounce pass off the boards that was intercepted by Jack Ford. Ford cut across the slot and slid the puck through Haas’ five-hole to knot the score at one. It was Ford’s four goal of the season.
Just 2:44 into the third period, the Generals regained the lead. Northeast’s Matthew Sutter set up the play in his own zone along the near side half wall and made a cross-ice pass to David Andreychuk who made a nice move around Levente Keresztes and Andreychuck passed the puck to Keefer up along the boards. Keefer entered the Titans zone on a 2-on-1 with Dalton Wright. As Keefer reached the bottom of the far side faceoff circle, he made a centering pass out front and Wright redirected the puck past a sprawled-out Hogg and into the back of the net to make it a 2 – 1 game.
The Titans tied the game with 1:44 remaining in regulation on Zach Nazzarett’s fourth goal of the season. Shortly after Hogg made a game saving breakaway stop on Northeast’s Ricky Boysen, Blake Humphrey picked up the loose puck at center ice. As he gained the line, he passed the biscuit to Nick Seitz on his right. As Seitz started to cut towards the far side boards, he made a behind the back pass to Nazzarett who took a wrister from the slot that beat Haas down low to send the game into overtime.
At 2:31 into overtime the Generals Dylan Schuett was called for tripping to give the Titans the man advantage. A minute later Werner won it for the Titans.
Looking to set up the play in the offensive zone, Werner sent a pass to Seitz on his right. As Seitz skated down low to the Generals net, he made a return pass back to Werner who took a one-timer that beat Haas to win the game. It was Werner’s team high fourteenth goal of the season.
Hogg stopped 24 of 26 shots while Haas turned aside 34 of 37. Click here for the box score.
The two teams will finish their two-game series tonight at 6:15 PM at the Middletown Sports Complex.