The New Jersey Titans gained only one point in the standings, dropping a pair of games to the Johnstown Tomahawks this past weekend.
Friday night saw the Titans fall behind in the first period after giving up two goals in the first period before Logan Renkowski converted on the power play with 2:20 to go in the period. New Jersey would then take what proved to be their only lead of the weekend, tallying a pair of goals in the second to take a 3-2 lead. First, Arhip Sidarovich sniped a wrist short off a rush to tie the game, and Dominick Rivelli gave his team the lead with a power play marker with 5:37 to go. However, New Jersey would not maintain the lead, surrendering the game tying goal with under 5 minutes to play to force overtime. In the extra frame, a defensive miscue lead to a breakaway, and with 10.1 seconds to go, the Titans’ hopes to begin 2024 with a win were dashed. Dominik Bartecko and Matej Teply recorded a pair of assists, and Dylan Krick stopped 38 of 42 shots in the losing effort.
Looking to recover on Saturday, the Titans instead found themselves trailing early, giving up another goal in the first five minutes of the game. Down by 1 entered the second period, they would concede the next two goals in the game, with the Johnstown goals coming 1:06 apart. Dominick Rivelli would connect on the power play to draw New Jersey within two, but a pair of Tomahawk goals put the game out of reach. The four goals given up in the second period matches a season low, previous set in the first game of the season against Danbury.
Going 0-1-1 on the weekend, the Titans again find themselves in the final playoff spot in the East Division. They’ll have a chance to jump over idle Rochester when they play Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Game time is set for 7:30pm from the Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, NJ, and the game will be available to watch on NAHLtv.