September 17, 2022 (Attleboro, Mass.) – For the first time in the new season the NA3HL Generals took to the ice at the New England Sports Village looking to continue their strong start to the year. A combined 143 penalty minutes between the Gens and Sharks saw lots of physicality, and a General’s 5-2 win over Long Beach.
With the win Northeast improves to 4-0 on the regular season while the Sharks open up their 2022-23 campaign 0-1.
Matthew Nuzzolilo opened the scoring early in the game with the first shot of the game just 11 seconds into the contest. After picking off a sharks break out pass center ice circle Nuzzolilo entered the offensive end of the left side and ripped a shot from the top of the circle past Colten McIntyre in the Sharks net.
The Gens captain then doubled up in the second period scoring his second of the game and extending the lead to 2-0 4:34 into the middle period. This time sprung on a cross ice pass from Owen Locke through the neutral zone Nuzzolilo found himself alone on a breakaway. Opting to shoot Nuzzolilo picked the top right corner from the left side circle for his fifth goal of the season.
While holding all of the momentum the Generals added another goal to make it 3-0 just 1:32 later. Sean Gorman threw a puck to the front of the net from behind the goal line. Michael Locke was waiting for the pass but was taken down by a Sharks defender. Not fazed by being on his knees Locke waited for McIntyre to make the first move and lifted the puck with his backhand over the netminder and into the top of the net.
Long Beach scored the next two goals to carry a one goal deficit into the second intermission. First, at 14:29 Logan Plante found the back of the net, then at 17:01 while on the power play Jeremy Henk redirected a shot from the point that came off the stick of Sam Barnitz.
The third period was home to a pair of fights as tensions began to rise and was also home to a pair of Generals goals to clinch the 5-2 win. Caiden Hess scored on a breakaway by sliding the puck between McIntyre’s legs at 12:37. Braeden Kennedy then added one of his own at 14:35 off an assist from Nolan Merulli.
Luke Fundator (1-0) earned the win in his first action of the season stopping 33 of 35 shots against. McIntyre (0-1) played very well for the Sharks making 45 saves on 50 shots, but earned the loss.
The two teams will run it back tomorrow Sunday September 18th for the second of the two game set. Puck drop is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Village.
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