Charles Panchisin scored twice and Greg Spitznagle also lit the lamp but it wasn’t enough as the visiting Rebels fell to the Titans 5 – 3 to split this weekend’s home and home series between the teams.
New Jersey’s Dominik Bartecko scored his first goal of the game just 3:53 into the opening period. The Titans’ Jake Geraci kept the puck inside the Rebels zone at the blueline by the near side boards and made a cross-ice pass to Bartecko at the far side faceoff circle. Bartecko took a clapper that beat Rebels goalie Jack Fialkoff high, short side to make it a 1 -0 game.
Almost three minutes later Panchisin tied the contest. New Jersey’s Arhip Sidarovich brought the puck into the Rebels zone and skated towards the far side wall. As he turned, the puck skipped off his stick and Sidarovich and Otto Polakovs fought for the biscuit, which was poked to Panchisin who skated in all alone on a breakaway and beat Titans goalie Zak Brice for Panchisin’s ninth goal of the season.
The Titans regained the lead with 3:29 remaining in the first on Bartecko’s second goal of the game. New Jersey’s Kai Elkie picked up the loose puck at center ice and made a shuttle pass up to Bartecko. As Bartecko gained the line, he took a wrist shot from the slot that beat Fialkoff high, blocker side to make it a 2 – 1 game.
With 1;19 left in the first, New Jersey’s Dominick Rivelli was called for slashing to give the Rebels the man advantage. Forty-eight seconds later Spitznagel evened the score. Panchisin brought the puck down the far side boards, reversed, and sent a pass back to Jared Coccimiglio in the slot. Coccimiglio took a shot that was blocked out in front, but the rebound came right out to Spitznagle who sent the biscuit into the back of the net to make it a 2 – 2 game.
New Jersey’s Logan Renkowski game the Titans their third lead of the game at 7:58 into the middle stanza. The Titans’ Ethan Wongus was called for slashing at 6:04 of the period. With the Rebels in the offensive zone, New Jeresy’s Leo Schwartz blocked a shot and the puck went out to Bartecko who skated through center ice and into the offensive zone. As he gained the line on a two-on-one, he passed the biscuit to Renkowski on his right and Renkowski took a wrist shot that beat Fialkoff for Renkowski’s third goal of the season.
Panchisin scored his second of the game with 4:19 remaining in the middle stanza. Billy Sheridan brought the puck in to the offensive zone. As he gained the line, he passed the biscuit to Panchisin on his right. Panchisin took a shot from the slot that was blocked out front, but the rebound came right out to Panchisin who deposited the puck into the back of the net to even the score at three.
The Titans’ Johnny McMahon scored with seventeen seconds remaining in the second to give New Jersey the lead for good and make it a 4 – 3 game. Ryan Friedman scored an empty net goal to give the Titans a 5 – 3 lead and close out the scoring.
Fialkoff stopped 32 of 36 shots while Brice turned aside 28 of 31. Click HERE for the complete box score.
The Rebels will now face the Maryland Black Bears for a two-game series at the Hollydell Ice Arena.
