Attleboro, Mass. – The Northeast Generals NAHL squad hit the ice at the New England Sports Village on Thursday for the first time in over a month for the first half of a two game series against the Philadelphia Rebels. The offense was buzzing on Thursday night with the Gens putting on a 9 goal performance in the 9-1 win. Friday wasn’t as successful for the Generals falling 3-2 in overtime.
After splitting a weekend series two weeks ago at the Rebels home in Sewell, NJ the Generals came out Thursday determined to start back on the right foot with a win in game one. The first period was similar to the one last week for the Generals win over the Rebels. Two straight goals from Paul Minnehan (17), and Andrew DellaDonna (6) helped the Gens to a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The second period produced even more offense for Northeast scoring three goals in the middle stanza. Ryan Remick (8) started the party just under three minutes into the frame while the league’s leading goal scorer Jake LaRusso (22) added another at the 7:11 mark. Philadelphia got one back just over halfway through the period, but LaRusso (23) added another one in the final minute to regain the 4 goal lead before the buzzer.
Carrying a 5-1 advantage into the final period of play the Generals continued to apply pressure to the Rebels defense. Remick (9) scored his second of the game at 3:33 followed by Joe Schubert (7) at 9:54. Minnehan became the third General to score two goals in the game with his 18th of the season at 13:35, and Nick Ramm (7) put the icing on the cake at 16:49 giving the Gens a 9-1 lead.
LaRusso added an assist to his two goals for a three point performance joining DellaDonna (1g, 2a), Dave Andreychuk (3a), and Matt DeSpirt (3a) to pace the game. Toby Hopp (12-2-2) played all 60 minutes and stopped 27 of 28 shots earning his 12th win of the season. Hopp is now 3rd in the NAHL for save percentage with .933.
Fresh off a commanding win on Thursday night the Gens welcomed students and families from Hyman-Fine Elementary school to the Village for the back half of the weekend series. Despite the strong offensive output from the night before the Gens fell in overtime to the Rebels to secure 3 out of the possible 4 points on the weekend.
Scoring was opened in the first period again by the Generals. This time by Tyler Ramm (2) who scored his first goal of the season against the Rebels two weeks ago. Ramm’s goal came at the 15:13 mark of the period, and stood to give the Gens a 1-0 lead after the one.
Both teams struck in the second period starting with the Max Hamstad and the Rebels at 6:02. Nick Recupero (2) found the back of the net while on the powerplay at 13:37 to regain the lead and carry it into the third period.
Only one goal was scored in the third, and it belonged to Tyler Stern of the Rebels to tie the game at 2 a piece. After killing off a penalty in the extra frame David Deputy found himself on a breakaway in the sudden death period. Deputy roofed the puck 3:16 into overtime to win the game and avoid the sweep.
Jakub Krebecek stopped 31 of 33 shots in the winning effort while Cullen DeYoung (8-8-2-1) made 24 saves in the OT loss.
Andreychuk picked up an assist in Friday night’s game giving him 4 on the weekend. He extends his league lead to 37 assists, and 51 points. Both top of the NAHL.