LEWISTON, ME – The Philadelphia Rebels’ (26-30-2-1, 55 pts) kicked off their last series of the season on Friday night with a 7-4 defeat as they traveled north to play the Maine Nordiques (33-23-2-1, 69 pts).
Coming off a three-game sweep of the Tomahawks to knock Johnstown out of the playoffs, the Rebels looked to continue that momentum into their final weekend of play.
After the first four minutes of play in the first went scoreless, Maine bursted out to score three goals in the period and take control of the game.
Philadelphia was able to find its offense in the second period, scoring twice. Otto Polakovs (2) scored the first goal of the period for the Rebels when he deflected a shot right off a face off to put Philadelphia on the board.
With 30 seconds to go in the frame, Carter Casper maneuvered his way into the Nordiques’ zone to beat goaltender Kael Depape with a wrister and give the Rebels their second goal of the period. The tally was Casper’s sixth of the season.
Still, Philadelphia trailed by three after 40 minutes.
Three minutes into the third, Kris Samitis scored on a wraparound for his ninth of the season and the Rebels were within two. Philadelphia, however, never found a goal to put the game within one.
The two teams traded late goals with Luke deVries scoring a power-play goal for Philadelphia, but Maine’s seven tallies put the Nordiques on top for good.
The Rebels wrap up their 2022-2023 season on Saturday night against the Nordiques, as they look to end the season with a victory.
