Thursday Tilts: Maryland Punches Ticket to Division Finals & Northeast Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive

Photo Credit: Patrick Garriepy

Maryland 5 @ Danbury 4 (Maryland wins series 3-0)  - In a back-and-forth battle at the Danbury Ice Arena, the Hat Tricks showcased why they were in the postseason for the first time as an organization. The contest kicked off with Danbury striking first on the power play. Matt Dabrowski scored his third of the playoffs around the 11-minute mark of the first period. Four minutes later, the Black Bears evened the score thanks to a power-play tally by Ryan Franks. Moving into the second period, the Hat Tricks would strike again, this time shorthanded by Brendan Boring. However, a few minutes later, Maryland would even the score once again. Stonehill commit Tanner Duncan lights the lamp midway through the frame on the power play. In the final four minutes of the middle period, the Black Bears would take their first lead of the night, this time Kristofers Krumins scoring on the man advantage for Maryland. Moving into the final frame, the Hat Tricks would strike back quickly to even the score once again. This time, Ryan Lukko scores unassisted. A few minutes later, the Black Bears would tie up the contest once again. Maryland’s captain, Owen Drury, lights the lamp for the second time in this series. A little over a minute later, Patrik Ula evens the score for the Hat Tricks, giving his team life midway through the period. The Black Bears would seal the victory with a tally by Ryan Franks at the 9:35 minute mark in the period. Maryland skates to a 5-4 road win and a punched ticket to the Division Finals. 

Rochester 1 @ Northeast 2 (Rochester leads series 2-1) - In a win-or-go-home contest, the Northeast Generals showed up on home ice. The game kicked off with the Generals striking first in the opening frame with a tally midway through the period. Stephen Fabiano scored his first of the postseason for Northeast. Moving into the second period, the Generals added to their lead with a goal by Andrew Gibbons seven minutes into the frame. Moving into the last 20 minutes of regulation, the Rochester Jr. Americans cut the deficit in half with an unassisted tally by Matt Portz with seven minutes to spare in the final frame. The Jr. Americans would eventually fall in a 2-1 fashion. The Generals' netminder, Will Mizenko, stood tall between the pipes and turned aside 34 out of 35 shots on net.