The Generals swept their final meeting against the New Jersey Titans in the final regular season matchup between the two sides. Northeast collected the wins on Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18, walking away with the 8-1 and 5-2 victories.
Game one saw neither team get on the score sheet until early in the second period. Forward Blake Hasenauer broke the 0-0 deadlock only 16 seconds into the second with a powerplay goal to jump ahead, before defenseman Brandon Hemmer jumped in with a goal of his own a minute later to make it 2-0. The Generals’ offense continued it’s onslaught with forward Michael Locke and Reese Tamburo, who scored four and eight minutes into the period to make it a commanding 4-0 lead.
Forward Caiden Hess then added a goal 15-and-a-half into the period, before forward Nick Summers scored a penalty shot goal to make it 6-0. New Jersey finally responded with a minute remaining in the period to make it 6-1, before Hasenauer beat the buzzer to end the second period with a short handed goal as time expired to put the Generals ahead 7-1. Forward John Rodgers added in his own goal 13 minutes into the third to make it 8-0, which stood till the final buzzer in Northeast’s dominant win.
Goaltender Danniel Antal received the start in net for game one, stopping 32 of the 33 shots he faced from his hometown team in his 19th victory this season. Four different Generals skaters recorded three or more points in the victory, with Locke leading the way with three assists to go with his goal.
Sunday afternoon saw the Generals offense break out early, with Tamburo scoring six and eight-and-a-half minutes into the game to make it 2-0 before the first period was even half way. New Jersey responded quickly in the second period however, scoring twice in the first seven minutes of the second frame, before Hemmer continued his hot start with the Generals since arriving from Mason City. Hemmer’s goal came with a little over 11 minutes remaining in the second period, and stood as the game winning goal, with Hess potting a powerplay goal 14 and a half minutes into the third to make it 4-2. Forward Gabe Vijuk potted the empty netter to give the Generals the victory once more, 5-2.
Goaltender Mike Foglia guarded the net for game two, stopping 18 of the 20 shots he saw in his 13th win this season. Four different Generals once again recorded multipoint nights, with Locke leading in points with three assists.
The Generals will head on the road for the first time since Feb. 2, with the team visiting the New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings at the Tri-Town Ice Arena in New Hampshire on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 12:10 PM EST. The Gens will then return home on Saturday, Feb. 24 to host the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks for the final time, before visiting Danbury on Sunday, Feb. 25. Those games will be at 7:30 and 7:00 PM EST respectively.