SEWELL, NJ– After a Friday win at home, the Black Bears traveled to New Jersey on Saturday to take on the Philadelphia Rebels in the back-end of a home-and-home weekend. After a quick start, the Black Bears got bested in the second period, but used a strong third period to close out the weekend sweep with a 6-3 victory.
Thanks to an early power play, the Black Bears got on the board with Owen Drury finding the back of the net for his 11th of the season off a centering feed from Josh Frenette to make it 1-0 only 1:49 into the game. Passed the midway point the Black Bears were on the penalty kill, but were able to get a shorthanded tally thanks to the forecheck of Frenette, who found Drury streaking down the middle and put it in the back of the net to make it 2-0 Black Bears. Philadelphia would get on the board with Joe Stauber scoring from the top of the left circle through traffic to make it 2-1 ahead of the first intermission.
Philadelphia scored 2:14 into the second period, with Stauber again throwing a shot on through traffic that alluded Dom Gatto to tie the game up at two. Both teams then would pick up the post-whistle scrums, giving the refereeing crew a busy middle frame. At one point, the Black Bears would go back onto the penalty kill, but Philadelphia would strike 10 seconds in with Stauber completing the hat trick and making it 3-2 for Philadelphia. Maryland wasn’t able to have sustained offensive time in the second and would go into the second intermission down by a goal.
With a sense of urgency, the Black Bears came out in the third strong with a couple of early chances to set the tone. It wasn’t until 7:30 into the third when Maryland would tie up the game with Ryan Franks putting home a shot from the slot for his 25th goal of the season. Only 49 seconds later, Liam Doherty put a puck in front of the net that knocked off Harrison Smith and into the net for make it 4-3 for the Black Bears. The attack continued, as Owen Drury completed his hat trick off a feed from Daniel Johnson in front to make it a 5-3 game for Maryland. The Black Bears defense kept Philadelphia at bay and with 43 seconds remaining, Smith beat out two defenders and fed Tanner Duncan in the slot for the empty net goal, extending Duncan’s point-streak to 27 games and giving the Black Bears the 6-3 victory. Dom Gatto made 18 saves in net.
The Black Bears are back on the road next weekend, heading to Johnstown Friday and Saturday. All the action can be caught on NAHL TV or at the Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery watch parties.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 