Goaltender Eli Billing turned aside all twenty-seven shot he faced as the Rebels defeated the visiting New Jersey Titans in today’s Presidents Day matinee. It was Philadelphia’s fourth consecutive win, and the victory grew their lead in the East Division by seventeen points over second place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Brandon Stanley had a two-goal game.
New Jersey’s Matthew Cameron was called for holding at the 4:38 mark of the first period to give the Rebels the man advantage. Luke Radetic would pick up the puck along the Titans near side boards and send it back to Diarmad DiMurro at the point. DiMurro would start to walk the link and then sent a return pass back to Radetic at the top of the near side faceoff circle. Radetic spun and sent a backhanded shot on net that was tipped by a Titans defender but Stanley was in the slot and redirected the rebound past New Jersey goaltender Matthew Ladd to give the Rebels a 1 – 0 at 5:13 into the period.
The Rebels would double their lead on Ryan Patrick’s sixteenth goal on the season with 2:36 left in the first.
Eric Olson would take a shot in close that was saved by Ladd but the rebound went into the near side corner where it was picked up Patrick. The Rebels captain would bring the puck up along the boards and skate towards the top of the slot. As he skated to the far side faceoff circle he took a shot that found its way through a screen and past Ladd to make it a 2 – 0 game.
After a scoreless second period, Stanley would score his second goal of the game with 6:20 into the third period with an outstanding display of hustle. Carson Moniz would pick up the loose puck off the boards in his own zone and send a long lob pass into the Titans zone. As the puck reached the top of the faceoff circle Stanley was able to pick up the puck and skated towards the net. He cut across the goalmouth and tucked a backhander through Ladd’s five-hole to close out the scoring at 3 – 0.
It was Billing’s second shutout on the season. Ladd turned aside 23 of 26 shots. Click here for the box score.
The two teams will be back at it again this weekend in a home-and-home series.
