CANTON, Mass. — Mikey Conlon celebrated his 100th NAHL game with three assists as the Philadelphia Rebels handed the Northeast Generals their first regulation loss of the season with a 3-2 victory Saturday night at Canton Ice House.
Conlon recorded the primary assist on all three Philadelphia goals, bringing his season total to five assists. Timmy Donohue scored his first NAHL goal and Ben Varsa made 22 saves as the Rebels improved to 5-4-0-0. Northeast fell to 6-1-0-1.
After a scoreless opening period, Northeast struck just 19 seconds into the second. Logan Poulin scored from near the goal line in the far corner to give the Generals a 1-0 lead.
Philadelphia answered on the power play when Donohue found the back of the net for his first career NAHL goal, tying the game at 1-1.
The Rebels took their first lead with 1:42 remaining in the second period. Conlon fired a shot from the near point that captain Broxton Ingle redirected past Gavin Weeks for his second goal of the season, sending Philadelphia into the second intermission with a 2-1 advantage.
Northeast responded quickly to begin the third. Poulin scored his second goal of the night on the power play just 24 seconds into the period to tie the game at 2-2.
Conlon helped create the eventual game-winner midway through the third. The defenseman raced the puck out of his own end and drove toward the slot before, while falling to the ice, sending a pass across to Cam Wilson. Wilson finished the play for his first goal of the season, putting the Rebels back in front, 3-2.
The Generals made one final push in the closing seconds, creating a scramble around the Philadelphia net, but Varsa stood tall to preserve the lead and secure the victory.
Philadelphia outshot Northeast 31-24 and finished 2-for-3 on the power play. The Generals went 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
The victory gave Philadelphia a split of the weekend series and moved the Rebels to 5-4-0-0, while Northeast dropped to 6-1-0-1 with its first regulation loss of the season.
The Rebels and Generals will meet this upcoming Friday and Saturday at Hollydell Ice Arena.