The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights scored two goals fifteen seconds apart to give them a 3 – 1 victory over the Philadelphia Rebels and gave the visitors their first loss of the season.
Just 1:29 into the game, the Knights Curtis Carlson was called for slashing to put the Rebels on the powerplay. After receiving a cross-ice pass from Brandon Stanley, Diarmad DiMurro had the puck at the top of the near side point. He passed it to the top of the faceoff circle to Andrew Bellant. Bellant passed the puck across to a breaking DiMurro who took a shot at the top of the circle that was saved by Knights goalie David Tomeo but the netminder was unable to control the rebound and the puck was picked up by Auggie Moore who put it passed Tomeo for his fifth goal on the season at 2:32 into the opening period.
With eight second remaining in the first period, the Rebels tried to clear the puck out of their zone but it went into the stands for a faceoff deep inside their zone. Tyrone Bronte won the draw and the puck went back to the far side point to Anthony Firriolo. The Knights defenseman took a shot that was going to the blocker side of Rebels goalie Ryan Keane but it was deflected by Justin Engelkes who put it past Keane to tie the game at one with two seconds left in the period.
Thirteen seconds into the second period the Knights took the lead for good. After winning the opening draw, Engelkes would bring the puck up the near side boards and passed it over to Adrian Danchenko on his right. Danchenko would carried the puck into the offensive zone. As Danchenko skated towards the net Keane would poke check the puck but the loose puck was picked up by a trailing Bronte who skated towards his right and lifted the puck past a fallen Keane into an open net to give the Knights a 2 – 1 lead.
With back and forth play throughout the remainder of the second, the Knights would put the game out of reach with 3:07 into the final period. Matt Kidney had the puck down low along the near side boards. He passed the puck back to Thomas Farrell at the top of the faceoff circle. Farrell would skate along the board and behind the net. As he tried a wrap around the puck came out to Gabe Temple who picked up the rebound and put it past Keane to close out the scoring.
Keane turned aside 32 of 35 shots while Tomeo stopped 26 of 27 shots on goal. Click here for the box score.
The Rebels will look to regroup this weekend when the visiting Johnstown Tomahawks come to town to play two games: Sunday, October 29 at 6:20pm and Monday, October 30 at 7:00pm. The Rebels will paint the rink pink by wearing special jerseys that will be auctioned off with proceeds going to Susan G. Komen of Philadelphia. The team will have a meet and greet immediately following Sunday night’s game.
