Goaltender Ryan Keane stopped 28 of 29 shots he faced last night, including several Grade A saves, to lift the Rebels to a 3 – 1 victory over the visiting New Jersey Titans to earn a split of the weekend series.
The Rebels got on the board first with a nifty move from Eric Olson. Olson would bring the puck out from behind the Titans net and passed it back to Kolby Vegara at the point. Vegara took a wrist shot that was saved by New Jersey goalie Brandon Perrone but the puck went into the far side corner where it was picked up by Olson. Olson would drag the puck at the top of the faceoff circle and then turned inward towards the net on his forehand. As Olson cut across the slot he took a wrist shot that went high and beat a fallen Perrone to give the Rebels a 1 – 0 lead with 6:29 left in the opening period.
Diarmad DiMurro was called for tripping with 2:09 remaining in the first to put the Titans on the powerplay. With time winding down in the period and with the extra attacker, New Jersey’s Hunter Alden would set up the play at the top of the near side faceoff circle. He sent a pass back to the top of the point to Tyler Antonucci. Antonucci would pass it to Todd Goehring on his left who was skating along the far side boards. Goehring made a pass to Nick Boyagian at the top of the slot and Boyagian took a one-timer that beat Keane long side to tie the game with twenty-four seconds left in the period.
The Rebels would take the lead for good with 2:18 into the second period. Auggie Moore would keep the puck in the offensive zone and skated towards the far side boards. Moore passed the puck to Adam Peck at the dot who found an open Jordin Holmes at the top of the far side boards. Holmes took a shot that was saved by Perrone but Peck picked up the rebound and tucked it in past Perrone to make a 2 – 1 game. It was Peck’s third goal on the season.
Jensen Zerban would score his sixth goal on the season with 7:12 left in the game. After winning the draw deep inside the Titans zone, Zerban oriented the puck back to Ryan Patrick at the top of the circle. Patrick sent a pass base to Holmes at the point. Holmes simply took a low-line shot that was redirected by Zerban in the slot short side passed Perrone to double the Rebels score.
The win gives Keane a 7 – 1 record on the season. He leads the NAHL with a 1.12 goals against average and .954 save percentage. Perrone turned aside 24 of 27 shots. Click here for the box score.
The two teams will be back at it on Wednesday night at 7:05 at the Class of 1923 Arena.
