An early hole was too much for the Maine Nordiques to climb out of in Game 2 of their North American Hockey League playoff game.
The New Jersey Titans scored two first-period goals in a 3-1 victory in an East Division semifinal game Friday at The Colisee in Lewiston. The best-of-five series is now tied at 1-1.
“It was one of those games, we didn’t play that poorly, everything ended up in (our) net, we gave up a couple of breakaways. and you can’t do that in playoff hockey,” Nordiques coach Nolan Howe said. “We will regroup here and we will face them in New Jersey.”
The series shifts to Middletown, New Jersey, for Games 3 and 4 next Thursday and Friday, at 7 p.m. each night. If Game 5 is needed, it will be May 30 (7 p.m.) at The Colisee.
Nick Seitz scored twice in the win, while Bowling Green commit Christian Stoever made 33 saves for the Titans.
New Jersey opened up the scoring with a goal by forward Jack Ring scored nearly 6:30 into the first period.
Ring recorded his second point of the period, assisting on Matthew Doyle’s goal with a little over six minutes remaining in the first period. Matthew Iasenza also had an assist.
The game stayed 2-0 until late in the second period when Nordiques forward Cannon Green put home a rebound from defenseman Cooper Swift with 1:21 remaining in the period. Thursday night’s hero, Steffan Owens, also had an assist.
New Jersey responded early in the third period. On a breakaway, Seitz went to the backhand to beat Nordiques goalie Tyriq Outen (18 saves). The goal came 76 seconds into the period.
“It was a heck of a play; they made a great pass, great finish, they made a good play,” Howe said of Seitz’s goal. “Certainly we had some chances in the second to tie it up and we felt good going into the third period. Unfortunately, we just didn’t get it done tonight.”
The Nordiques had a chance on the power play late in the game but didn’t convert. Maine was 0-for-3 on the man advantage, while the Titans were 0-for-2.
After the Nordiques’ power play ended, Seitz added his second goal of the game in the final two minutes.
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