Despite trailing by two goals with less than seven minutes remaining in the game, the Rebels comeback attempt fell short as they lost 6 – 5 in overtime to the visiting Northeast Generals in the season debut for both teams, which began with a heartfelt celebration for former assistant coach Matt Gaudreau and his brother John before the contest. Brayton Frick had a pair of goals for the Rebels. Otto Polakovs, Billy Sheridan and Brock Jones also lit the lamp for Philadelphia.
Northeast’s Jake Gutwirth scored at 1:54 into the extra period to foil the Rebels valiant and gritty effort.
Prior to the game, the Rebels held a celebration of life for former assistant coach Matt Gaudreau and his brother John who tragically loss their life back on August 29. Philadelphia Flyers play-by-play announcer Jim Jackson was the Emcee of the ceremonies which included friends and family members of the Gaudreau family, including the patriarch of the Hollydell Ice Arean Guy Gaudreau. Flyers renowned singer Lauren Hart sung the National Anthem while Matt’s wife Madeline dropped the puck – all in front of over 1,200 in attendance.
Frick opened the scoring at 9:37 into the contest just when the Rebels powerplay had concluded. After Nick Bianchi entered the offensive zone, he took a shot on net that was saved by Northeast’s goalie Ryan Nolan but the rebound was swept out front to Frick who wristed the biscuit past Nolan short side to give the Rebels a 1 – 0 lead.
The Generals then scored two of their own with less than seven minutes remaining in the opening period to make it a 2 – 1 game. Northeast scored a shorthanded goal on the rush with 6:57 left in the first when Benjamin Campeau took a wrist shot through the five hole of Rebels netminder Owen Crudale to even the score. Then Northeast’s Spencer Hirsch took a wrist shot from the far side faceoff dot that founds its way through a screen and past Crudale with 2:34 left in the period to make it 2 – 1.
Sheridan even the score at 5:49 into the middle stanza. After receiving a nice outlet pass from Ceasar Bjork, Sheridan skated down the near side boards and into the offensive zone and took wrister from the faceoff dot that beat Nolan, high blocker side.
The Generals took their second lead of the night with 7:45 remaining in the period when Campeau picked up the rebound in the crease behind Crudale and into the back of the net for Campeau’s second tally of the game to make it 3 – 2.
Polakovs, who was playing in his 100th NAHL game, tied the game with 2:22 left in middle stanza on the powerplay after redirecting Jones’ shot in the slot and past Nolan.
The Generals then scored two goals in the third to make it 5 – 3 starting with 3:55 in the period. Northeast’s Grady Logue scored a backdoor goal on the powerplay to give the Generals the lead, and then Rich Rucireto scored on a broken play in front of the net with 8:28 remaining to double Northeast’s margin.
As shown throughout the game, the Rebels never gave up, over coming the two-goal deficit starting with Jones with 6:57 left in the game. After Zachary Spagnuolo took a shot on net from the near side half wall that was saved by Nolan, the rebound came out directly to Jones, positioned to the left of Nolan, who swept the puck into the open net to move the Rebels within one.
Frick’s second goal of the game on a redirection shot from Bianchi with 2:28 left in third sent the contest into overtime where Gutwirth took a wrist shot that beat Crudale low, far-side to give the General the win.
Nolan turned aside 32 of 37 shots while Crudale stopped 31 of 37. Click HERE for the complete box score.
