MIDDLETOWN, NJ– It was a battle of the last two East Division playoff winners, as the Black Bears travelled to New Jersey to take on the Titans. After a bit of a shaky start, the Black Bears got back to their game plan and swept New Jersey in their rink to push their record to 9-2-1.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 6th, 2023: BLACK BEARS (3) at New Jersey (2): It was not the start the Black Bears had wanted, as Ethan Wongus put home the game’s first goal only 28 seconds into the first period after a turnover in the Maryland’s offensive zone gave New Jersey an odd-man rush. The Black Bears would pick up their game, with plenty of chances on net, but it was until the halfway mark when the Black Bears would strike. Adam Schankula would pick up a loose puck in front of the net from a Keanu Krenn shot and put it home for his fourth of the campaign. Only 41 seconds later, the Black Bears would gain the lead with newcomer Dylan Gordon jumping up in the play to put home the rebound off a Ben Tauscher shot to put Maryland up 2-1. While Maryland tried to hold the momentum, New Jersey would tie it up with a floater from the point by Kristofers Krumins that eluded Jack Wieneke to tie the game at 2 at the end of the first.
The second frame has a more up-and-down style of play, with both teams getting glorious chances, but Wieneke for Maryland and Zak Brice for New Jersey made stellar saves to keep the game knotted up. It wasn’t until 11:36 into the middle stanza when the Black Bears regained the lead shorthanded, as Jeremi Tremblay pickpocketed Brice behind the net and tucked in his seventh of the season for the 3-2 Maryland lead, despite the disdain from the New Jersey bench saying Maryland had too many men on the ice. New Jersey tried to make a late period push, but the Black Bears held off that threat to take the lead into the second intermission.
For the third, Maryland got into some penalty trouble early, but were able to kill it off and make a push of their own for an insurance goal. It was not to be and after killing off another penalty in the middle of the frame, the Black Bears were able to keep possession on their sticks, not allowing for any New Jersey threats and giving them the 3-2 victory for Friday night.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 7th, 2023: BLACK BEARS (3) at New Jersey (0): Lack of discipline was the main character for the Black Bears in the first, with three straight penalties– including a double-minor. Luckily, the penalty kill was solid; allowing Colin Ronan to see a lot of shots from the perimeter and keeping his sheet clean. Maryland would be able to get their offense going towards the end of the period, but couldn’t find the net behind Dylan Krick. New Jersey looked to have opened up the scoring, with the referees calling a goal. However, upon checking with the goal judge, the puck hit the post and bolted out, thus no goal was scored and the period ended with a scoreless scoreboard.
An early power play for Maryland would put them on the board first with Jeremi Tremblay picking up a Jesse Horacek rebound and putting the Black Bears up 1-0 on the power play. With their foot on the pedal, Maryland continued their offensive push against New Jersey and would break through five minutes later with Keanu Krenn picking up his own rebound and going crossbar down and in to extend the Black Bears lead to two. The defense was solid to keep New Jersey to only seven shots in the frame and went into intermission up 2-0.
It was a back-and-forth third period for a second straight night, as New Jersey looked to find a way to solve the Black Bears defense. Ronan came up with some big saves down the stretch, while the Black Bears counterattack trying to find some insurance. It was until New Jersey pulled the goalie when Kareem El-Bashir threw a shot from his own goal line and into the empty net to make it 3-0 and give the Maryland Black Bears another weekend sweep. Ronan collected his third straight shutout and extended his shutout streak to 212:05, last giving up a goal 7:15 into the second period to the Minnesota Wilderness in game three for the Black Bears at the NAHL Showcase.
Maryland will be on the road again next weekend in Maine, as they take on the the Nordiques. All the action can be seen on NAHLTV.
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