The visiting Maine Nordiques scored four first period goals en route to a 6 – 2 win over the Rebels. The Nordiques Jake Bernadet had a pair of goals.
It was the Rebels fifth straight loss.
Maine scored two quick goals within the first six minutes of the contest starting at 2:22 into the game. After the Nordiques dumped the puck behind the Rebels net, goalie Jack Fialkoff stopped it along the end wall and rimmed it around the near side boards where it was intercepted by Maine’s Nick Ramm. Ramm went to make a centering pass to the slot but the biscuit went across the ice and picked up by defenseman Nicholas Bernardo at the far side boards. Bernardo took a wrist shot that beat Fialkoff long side for Bernardo’s fourth goal of the season.
The Nordiques doubled their lead at 5:56 into the first. Ramm picked up the loose puck at the top of his own faceoff circle and brought the biscuit up through the center ice and into the offensive zone. As he gained the line on a three-on-one, he took a wrist shot that was saved by Fialkoff but the rebound came right out to Luke Chappelle on the door step and Chappelle slammed the puck into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
With 5:29 remaining in the first, the Rebels Josh Galizia was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. Just nine seconds later Brock Jones cut Philadelphia’s deficit in half. After the Nordiques won the draw deep inside the Rebels zone, the biscuit went back to Maine’s David Helledy at the far side point. Helledy went to make a cross-ice pass to partner Tomek Haula but it was tipped by Max Marquette and the loose puck was picked up by Jones. Jones broke down the near side boards and into the offensive zone where he took a wrist shot from the top of the circle that beat Nordiques netminder Thomas Heaney high, short side to make it a 2 – 1 game.
While still on the man advantage because of the Galizia penalty, the Nordiques regained their two-goal lead with 4:19 left in the period when Helledy took a shot from the point that was saved by Fialkoff but the rebound came right out to Ryan Panico who slammed the puck into the back of the net for third goal of the season.
Maine made it 4 – 1 with a minute remaining in the opening period when Shane Kozlina scored another powerplay goal for his third of the season.
Fialkoff was replaced by Jakub Krbecek.
At 1:14 into the second period, Maine’s Cole Hipkin was called for tripping to give the Rebels the man advantage. Forty-five seconds later Kris Samitis made it 4 – 2. Charles Panchisin intercepted a Nordiques outlet pass at the near side point and cut towards the faceoff dot. Panchisin made a cross-ice pass to Samitis who took a one-timer that beat Heaney for Samitis’ tenth goal of the season. Samitis now leads the team with most goals scored this year.
Bernadet then scored his two goals in the second period to make it a 6 – 2 game and close out the scoring.
Fialkoff and Krbecek combined to stop 31 of 37 shots while Heaney turned aside 31 of 33. Click here for the complete box score.
