Ruslan Jamaldinov scored a pair of third period goals but it wasn’t enough as the Rebels fell to the visiting Maryland Black Bears 3 – 2 in a seesaw game. Despite the loss, the Rebels didn’t lose any ground in the playoff standings as the sixth seed New Hampshire Mountain Kings also loss enabling the Rebels to stay within four points of the final playoff spot.
After a scoreless first period, Maryland spent most of the second period in the offensive zone but Rebels netminder Owen Crudale stood on his head to keep his team in the game until the Black Bears’ Isac Nielsen was able to breakthrough with a minute and six seconds remaining in the middle stanza. Playing 5 on 4 hockey and Maryland setting up in the Rebels end, the Black Bears’ Harrison Smith started the play at the top of the near side faceoff circle and made a cross-ice pass to Victor Mannebratt who took low wrist shot that Nielsen redirected out front and past Crudale to make it a 1 – 0 game.
Jamaldinov scored his first goal of the contest midway in the third period. Playing 4 on 4 hockey after coincidental penalties had been called, Caeser Björk picked up the loose puck and brought it along the end wall towards the near side corner where he was met by a Maryland defender. As the biscuit squirted free, it was picked up by Billy Sheridan who started to skate towards the far side corner. As Sheridan reached the Maryland net, he made a backhanded pass to Jamaldinov in the slot and Jamaldinov took a shot that beat Black Bears goaltender Ryan Denes low, long side to tie the contest at one.
Maryland regained the lead with 6:06 remaining in the final period. The Black Bears’ Sebastian Speck picked up the loose puck in his own zone and passed it to Owen Drury at the top of the slot. Drury made a shuttle pass up to Luke Janus who skated through center ice and into the offensive zone. As Janus gained the line, he made a drop pass to Drury who skated up along the near side boards and around the end wall. As Drury came out of his turn from behind the net, he stopped at the far side faceoff circle and took a shot that found its way through a screen and past Crudale to make it a 2 – 1 game.
Maryland’s lead lasted only eleven seconds.
After the ensuing faceoff from Drury’s goal, the puck went back to Bryce Strand in his own end and Strand passed it up to Ryan Bunting at the near side blueline. Bunting made a pass to a breaking Sheridan in the middle and Sheridan skated through center ice and into the offensive zone. As Sheridan gained the line, he made a return pass to Bunting on his left. Bunting cut through center ice and went down low. As he reached the goalmouth, Bunting made a quick pass to Jamaldinov on his left and Jamaldinov deposited the biscuit into the back of the net for his second of the game and nineteenth of the season.
With 4:26 left in the contest, Janus scored the game winner. After a turnover in the Rebels zone, the puck came out to Speck at the nearside blueline. Speck passed it up to Janus in the slot. Janus took a wrist shot that was saved by Crudale but the puck fell behind him and Janus swept the biscuit into the back of the net to close out the scoring and make it a 3 – 2 game.
Crudale stopped 39 of 42 shots while Denes turned aside 25 of 27. Click HERE for the complete box score.