The Northeast Generals played their very first game in the North American Hockey League last night. They good off to a fantastic start but couldn’t finish as the defending East Division champion Rebels came back from a 2 – 0 deficit to win 4 – 2.
The Generals got on the board first when Kevin Perry and Alex Cohen set up Justin Allen who beat Rebels goalie Joel DeSimone to give the Generals a 1 – 0 lead 9 minutes into the game.
A minute later Max Brainin and Artisom Anosau fed Anthony Tzveyn who was able to put the puck behind DeSimone to give the Generals a 2 – 0 led.
With time winding down in the first and the Rebels on a power play, Drew Blackmun was down low in the zone and passed it back to the point to Michael Underwood. Underwood passed it to his left as his defensive partner Ryan Solomon took a blast from the point to be Generals goalie Stephan Gasior to put the Rebels on the board.
After a shaky first period, the Rebels dominated the second period. Seven minutes into the middle stanza, captain Dom Garica and Ginluca Esteves set up Andrew Bellant who tied the game at two. Four minutes later, Brennan Kapcheck feed Garcia with a perfect pass up the middle and Garcia skated in on a breakaway and beat Gasior to give the Rebels a 3 – 2 lead. With seven minutes left in the second, Ryan Patrick and Michael Underwood found Andrew Peck, who walked in on Gasier and slide the puck passed him giving the Rebels a 4 – 2 lead.
Despite not scoring in the third, the Rebels continued to dominate in the third but Gasier kept the Generals in the game. In all, the Rebels outshot the Generals 30 to 13 during the last two periods. DeSimone make 26 saves on 28 shots while Gasier had 38 saves on 42 shots.
The teams are back at it again tonight at 7:30pm.
