Eli Billing recorded his first North American Hockey League shutout by turning aside all 25 shots he faced as Brandon Stanley and Aaron Maguyon each had two points as the visiting Philadelphia Rebels won 3 – 0 to complete the weekend sweep over the Northeast Generals. The victory puts the Rebels three points ahead of the second place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights.
Having entered the game converting on 47% of their powerplay chances, the Rebels would score the only goal they needed on … the powerplay. With offsetting penalties to Andrew Bellant and Joe Nagle, Matt Wiesner was called for roughing to give the Rebels the extra attacker. After Stanley won the draw deep inside the Generals zone the puck went back to Dusan Kemc who then skated near the far side boards. Kemc sent a pass back to the point to Carson Moniz. Moniz would pass it downlow to his left to Aaron Maguyon who took a one-timer that was deflected by Stanley in the slot past Generals goalie Marko Sturma to give the Rebels a 1 – 0 lead with 4:25 left in the first period.
In a very good back and forth physical second period, the Rebels would take a 2 – 0 lead on Adam Peck’s seventh goal on the season. As the Generals tried to clear the zone Peck intercepted the puck at the far side blueline and passed it over to Auggie Moore on his right. As Moore skated to the slot he took a low shot that Sturma made a right-pad save but the rebound came out directly to Peck who tucked in the rebound into the open net with 7:06 left in the second period.
After outshooting the Generals 28 – 18 after two periods of play, the Rebels looked to put the nail in the coffin. After Jensen Zerban won the draw deep inside the Generals zone the puck went back to Kmec at the near side point. Kmec took a clapper that went way wide and into the far side corner. After Stanley brought the puck out a scrum he passed it to Zerban to the left of Sturma. Zerban would skate around the net and pass it to a wide open Maguyon in the slot and the Egg Harbor Township, NJ native redirected the puck past Sturma to make it a 3 – 0 game. It was Maguyon’s ninth goal on the season.
Sturma would stop 47 of 50 shots. Click here for the box score.
The win concluded an eight-game road swing for the Rebels in which the team went 5 – 3 and moved them into first place with a three-point lead in the East Division.
The Rebels next game will be played on Thursday, December 7 at 7:30pm at the Class of 1923 Arena against the New Jersey Titans.
