The New Jersey Titans swept a weekend series against the Maryland Black Bears for the first time since November 25th and 26th, 2022, as they defeated the division’s top team by a score on 8-4 on Saturday night at the Middletown Sports Complex.
Looking to avenge last night’s loss, the Black Bears scored just 20 second into the game. New Jersey would tie it with Dominick Rivelli’s 21st of the season, assisted by Logan Renkowski and Ryan Novo at 12:14. Less than 2 minutes later and on the power play, Reece Brednich deflected a Dominik Bartecko shot for his 8th of the season. Lucas Marshall picked up the other helper, giving the Titans a lead they ultimately would not surrender.
The Black Bears again came out hot in the second period, but New Jersey’s Zak Brice stood tall in the home team’s crease. At 5:25 Cooper Eberhardt snapped a shot to the glove side for his 3rd of the year, from Kyle Kim and Kai Elkie. Jack Hillier stretched his personal point streak to 11 straight games with his 12th of season at 12:29 in the second in a 4 on 4 situation, assisted by Novo and Leo Schwartz, to make it 4-1. Maryland clawed one back on the power play just over a minute later, but Bartecko restored the three goal lead 1:25 after that for his 21st of the season, from Marshall and Brednich. Nikita Meshcheryakov ended the period with an exclamation mark, banging home the rebound on a Hillier breakaway for his 17th of the year, with Bartecko picking up the other assist as the Titans skated into the second intermission up 6-2.
Maryland would score twice in the first 6:57 of the third period to draw within two, but New Jersey’s defense would surrender no more. Rivelli added his second of the game at 18:56 by scoring an empty net goal. With a last minute power play, Bartecko scored his second of the game and 22nd of the year with 24 seconds remaining, giving the Titans their largest victory over Maryland since January 9th, 2021, a 9-2 New Jersey win.
With the win, the Titans move within 4 points of Johnstown and 4th place in the East Division. New Jersey’s record now stands at 26-20-3, good for 55 points. The Titans will be back in action Tuesday night at 7:30pm, as they look to get even against the Philadelphia Rebels after losing 7-2 to them last week. The game will be available to watch on NAHLtv.