Charles Panchisin, Ryan Vaites and Brock Jones scored to lead the visiting Rebels to a 3 – 1 win over the Generals to split the weekend series and complete the season series between the teams. The Generals won the season series four games to two.
Panchisin put the Rebels on the board first with 6:53 remaining in the opening period. Caesar Björk picked up the loose puck in the far side corner and sent it back to Drew Belleson at the point. As Belleson started to walk the line towards his right, he took a shot that was blocked out in front but the rebound came right out to Panchisin – who was to the right of the Generals net – and Panchisin took a sharp angle shot from the goal line that beat Northeast goaltender Ryan Nolan over his right shoulder to make it a 1 – 0 game. It was Panchisin’s thirteenth goal of the season and third against the Generals this year – most on the team. Björk’s assist game him his team high seventh point against Northeast during the six games played.
Vaites doubled the Rebels lead at 9:12 into the second period. After Billy Sheridan took a shot that went off the cross-bar, the puck came out to Joe Stauber in the slot. Stauber took a shot that went wide left of the net but the rebound came out to Vaites on the goal line and Vaites backhanded the puck up and over Nolan’s right shoulder and into the back of the net for Vaites fifth goal of the season.
Northeast’s Jack Demoura was called for high sticking at 8:24 of the third period. Almost a minute later Jones game the Rebels a 3 – 0 lead. Ryan Bunting brought the puck up along the far side boards and into the offensive zone. As Bunting gained the line, he passed the biscuit to Jones on his right and Jones took a wrist shot from just inside the faceoff circle that beat Nolan blocker side for Jones’ seventh of the season. Two of Jones’ seven goals this year came against Northeast. It was only the Rebels third powerplay goal out of 28 attempts this season.
Northeast’s Rich Rucireto scored his 23rd goal of the season with 3:18 remaining in the game but it wasn’t enough as the Rebels held to win their 18th game of the season. Owen Crudale stopped 31 of 32 shots for his 15th win of the season. Nolan turned aside 20 of 23. Click HERE for the complete box score.
The Rebels have thirteen games remaining in the season – seven on the road and six at home. They currently sit in ninth place with 39 points. They are currently five points behind the New Hampshire Mountain Kings for the sixth and final playoff spot but there are two other teams in front of them. The Rebels will return home next weekend for a two-game series against the Elmira Aviators, who only trail the Rebels by one point.
