The Rebels entered last night’s game with the best powerplay unit in the North American Hockey League. The home team took advantage of that ranking by scoring two, second period powerplay goals which propelled them to a 3 – 2 victory over the visiting Northeast Generals.
The Rebels would open the scoring early in the second period on Jimmy Glynn’s fourth goal on the season. After he intercepted a pass at center ice, Glynn lost an edge as he entered the Generals zone. As he was falling down, Glynn was able to leave a drop pass to Peter Zhong who started to skate towards the far side boards. As Zhong skated around the faceoff circle he sent a pass out front to Glynn who redirected the puck pass Northeast goalie David Fessenden to give the Rebels a 1 – 0 lead just 2:31 into the period.
The Generals would tie it a minute and sixteen seconds later on Matt Demelis’ eleventh goal on the season. After Demelis won the draw deep inside the Rebels zone, the puck would go back to Brain Chambers at the point. Chambers would keep it in the zone and send it up along the near side boards to Shawn Montgomery, who threw the puck out front and Demelis redirected it passed Eli Billing to make it a 1 – 1 game.
Northeast’s Sviatoslov Kuchynski received a major penalty for head contact at 8:57 of the second to give the Rebels the extra attacker. After Aaron Maguyon won the draw inside the Generals zone, the puck would go back to Kolby Vegara at the point. Looking to set up the play, Vegara and Diarmad DiMurro would send return passes to each other then Vegara sent the puck over to Maguyon on his left. Maguyon took a snap shot that was redirected by Brandon Stanley outfront passed Fessenden to give the Rebels a 2 – 1 lead with 10:40 left in the second.
Since Kuchynski was still serving his major penalty, the Rebels kept the extra attacker. Louis Boudon would compound the Generals problems when he took a slashing penalty to give the Rebels a two-man advantage. With time winding down on both penalties, Eric Olson would win the draw inside the Generals zone. The puck would go back to Vegara at the far side point. Vegara would pass it over to DiMurro on his right. As Vegara started to skate towards the near side boards, DiMurro passed the puck down low to Ryan Patrick. The Rebels captain would pass the puck back to Vegara and the defenseman took a one-timer that beat Fessenden to give the Rebels a 3 – 1 lead with 6:32 left in the period.
With 4:10 left in the period, Olson was called for checking-from-behind. Colin Bilek would keep the puck in the offensive zone and pass it over to Boudon on his right. Boudon took a slapshot that was saved by Billing but the rebound came right out to Mike Egan who tucked the puck in behind Billing to make it a 3 – 2 game with 3:30 left in the second period.
The Rebels had additional chances in the third to expand their lead but Fessenden make several key saves to keep the Generals within one goal.
Billing would turn aside thirteen of fifteen shots while Fessenden stops 32 of 35. Click here for the box score.
The Rebels next home game will be a Monday matinee game beginning at 4:20pm against the New Jersey Titans.
