Brock Jones’ powerplay goal 1:37 into the third period gave the Rebels a 2 – 1 win over the visiting Maine Nordiques to complete the weekend sweep between the two teams. Owen Crudale was very strong between the pipes stopping 48 of 49 shots.
It was the first time in franchise history that the Rebels swept the Nordiques at home.
Similar to Friday night’s game, the Nordiques took the initial lead starting at 7:26 remaining in the opening period. Maine’s Laurent Trepanier picked up the loose puck at center ice along the far side boards and brought it into the offensive zone. As Trepanier gained the line, he made a pass from the top of the faceoff circle to Usko Laaksonen in the slot and Laaksonen took a wrister that beat Crudale glove side for Laaksonen’s fifth goal of the season.
Luke Minard tied the game at one at 9:37 into the middle stanza. After Maine won the draw deep inside the Rebels zone, the puck went back to Laaksonen who tried to set up the play but was pressured by Minard. As Laaksonen skated back towards the top of the slot, Minard stripped him of the puck and skated through center ice and into the offensive zone all alone on Nordiques netminder Carter Richardson. As Minard skated to the goal mouth, he cut towards his left and deked around Richardson and backhanded the puck up and over the fallen goaltender and into the back of the net for Minard’s first goal of the season.
Just fifty-four seconds into the third period, Maine’s Dawson Anderson was called for slashing to give the Rebels the man advantage. Forty-three seconds later Jones delivered the game winner. After Charles Panchisin and Ryan Vaites played pitch and catch along the offensive zone blueline, Panchisin received one final return pass from Vaites and cut towards the top of the slot. He turned a sent a pass to Caesar Björk at the top of the near side faceoff circle. Björk immediately sent the biscuit down low to Jones who was to the right of Richardson. Jones turned and fired a wrist shot that beat Richardson high, short side to give the Rebels a 2 – 1 lead. It was Jones’ third point of the weekend.
Maine tried to comeback and controlled play in the third period taking 20 shots on net but Crudale stood tall stopping all of them to seal the victory.
Richardson turned aside 23 of 25 shots. Click HERE for the complete box score.
Next weekend the Rebels will travel to Canton, MA for a two-game series against the Northeast Generals.
