The Generals split their second home series in the month of January against the Maryland Black Bears, winning 3-1 on Friday, Jan. 12, before falling 1-3 in a flip of scores on Saturday, Jan. 13.
Game one on Friday saw how close the weekend was going to be, with the Generals taking the early lead in the first period with a power play slapshot goal from forward Ryan Remick 12:40 into the game to make it 1-0. That remained the score until the final 14 seconds of the second period, after forward Joseph McGraw on the penalty kill was able to generate a break away he backhanded into the net to give Northeast the 2-0 lead. The Black Bears responded late in the third to bring it to 2-1 with 11:21 left in the period, before the forward Sixten Jennersjo disrupted the passing in the Black Bears’ zone to give the Generals the empty netter, making the final score 3-1.
Goaltender Toby Hopp received the start and stood tall, stopping 38 of 39 shots in the big win. Jennersjo and McGraw both recorded an assist to match their goals, while forward Jacob Wilson and Defensemen Nick Recupero, Gregor Jennersjo, and Brendan Kimball all recorded assists.
Game two somehow played out as an even closer contested affair, with neither team being able to find the back of the net until six minutes into the second period, where McGraw continued his hot January with his second goal of the weekend. The Black Bears responded in the same period however, scoring a powerplay goal late to tie the game at 1-1. Maryland dug out a bouncing puck on the side of the net half way through the third to take a 2-1 lead, before finding the empty netter with three minutes remaining to end it at a inverse yet identical score of game one, 3-1.
Hopp received his second straight start, knocking away 24 shots on 26 attempts in the loss. Jennersjo and Wilson both assisted on McGraw’s lone goal, as they both continued their hot starts to the New Year as well.
The Generals are off to Danbury, Connecticut next weekend, where they will face the Danbury Hat Tricks for the first time in five weeks. Game one at the Danbury Ice Arena will be on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7:00 PM EST, with the final game of the series occurring the next day of Saturday, Jan. 18 at the same time.