They needed to come from behind in all three games, but important goals and timely saves delivered all 6 points up for grabs this past week for the New Jersey Titans.
The Titans began the weekend with a road trip up to Hooksett, NH, to face the expansion New Hampshire Mountain Kings for the first time in franchise history. Surrendering two goals in the first, and a third less than two minutes into the second, the Titans appeared destined to see their first loss of the season. However, they rallied, scoring five times, including three in three minutes, to take a lead they would not relenquish. First, defenseman Zach Gershner scored his first in the league at 7:59, assisted by Zach O’Neil. At 10:05, veteran George Hinds found the back of the net, assisted by Dante Debueriis, to cut the deficit to one.
Then, New Jersey’s offense found another gear. Zach O’Neil scored his first at 16:01. 35 seconds later, Nick Lamprecht gave New Jersey the lead, and Will Fliss scored what proved to be the game winner with under a minute to go to give the Titans a 5-3 lead, in a period where they outshot New Hampshire 26-5. The Mountain Kings got one back in the third, but it would not be enough, as the Titans skated away with a 5-4 victory on Friday afternoon. Sebastian Thome recorded 27 saves and his first win in the NA3HL.
With both teams looking to tighten up defensively Saturday afternoon, neither team found the back of the net in the first period. The Mountain Kings would connect in the second to take a 1-0 lead into the third. This time it was Nick Bianco who played the hero, with a pair of goals in the third after recording no goals in 18 games last season, his first in the league. Bianco’s first came at 8:47, assisted by Lucas Carney. His second, the eventual game winner, was scored at 13:36, courtesy of Colin Smargeon’s first point of his junior career. Jesse Riccio stopped 42 of 43 shots for New Jersey in a game where the Mountain Kings outshot the Titans in all three periods.
Looking to sweep the weekend and take an undefeated record into their home opener this week, the Titans left the Granite State and stopped in Long Beach, NY to meet the Sharks for the first time this season. Once again, the Titans fell behind after Long Beach scored in the eighth minute of the second period. Now used to playing from behind, New Jersey’s Nick Trabb tied the game at the 17:04 mark, assisted by Gershner and Jacob Gray. Gershner then connected with 24.9 seconds to go in the period, assisted by O’Neil and Carney to give the Titans the advantage. Avery Rovira stopped 28 of 29 shots on goal as all three rostered goalies came back to the Garden State with a victory.
With a 5-0-0 record, the Titans find themselves atop not only the East Division, but they are currently the top squad in the 34 team NA3HL. They will finally skate on home ice this Wednesday, September 27th, at 1:00 PM against the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks, to open a three game home stand.