New Jersey finally prevails in the second overtime, advance to face Anchorage for NAHL title

BLAINE, Minn. — There is just one solution to beat the New Jersey Titans within the playoffs it appears.

“When you’re going to beat us, you’ll need to kill us,” stated Titans coach Craig Doremus. And with one recreation left within the NAHL season, the Titans are proving very laborious to kill.

They have been two minutes from seeing their season finish on Sunday versus the New Mexico Ice Wolves, however prevailed with an influence play aim within the second time beyond regulation, successful 4-3 to advance to the Robertson Cup title recreation.

New Jersey will face the growth Anchorage Wolverines on Tuesday evening on the Ice Home in Blaine, with the winner hoisting the NAHL’s prime trophy.

Brendan Dumas had a pair of targets for the Titans on Sunday, after they misplaced recreation one of many best-of-three collection however prevailed in time beyond regulation on Saturday and in double time beyond regulation within the finale. Goalie Andrew Takacs, who’s dedicated to Colgate, had 46 saves within the win.

In addition to praising his workforce, Doremus had nothing however good issues to say in regards to the Ice Wolves and their coach, Phil Fox, after the trouble over the three video games.

“That’s an unbelievable hockey workforce … I need to tip my cap to them,” Doremus stated. “I simply informed Phil he’s one of many classiest guys I’ve handled in all my years right here and I’m a greater coach at the moment than I used to be three days in the past after I began teaching in opposition to him.”

New Mexico took 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads however couldn’t get any separation, and so they took 4 penalties within the two time beyond regulation intervals, together with a five-minute main that ultimately led to the series-winning aim.

“Clearly it stings. You hate giving up one within the third like that with a buck-thirty left. That’s at all times laborious,” stated Fox, who was named the NAHL coach of the 12 months. “You’ve received to be good in time beyond regulation and you’ll’t be taking penalties.”

After a good first interval, the Ice Wolves opened the second with an exclamation level. Whereas killing a penalty, Alex Gomez picked off a unfastened puck and sprung himself on a shorthanded breakaway. It ended with the lanky heart shoveling the puck one-handed between the New Jersey goalie’s pads.

The Titans answered and tied the sport on a Dumas shot that made it via a crowd and over the road. However New Mexico’s energy play, which had struggled, lastly clicked later within the second to present the Ice Wolves a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

After Dumas’ second aim of the sport tied it 2-2 for the Titans, New Mexico defenseman Jack Dalton had a fairly particular person rush to the web that was capped off together with his first aim of the playoffs to place the Ice Wolves up 3-2. Dalton had been a late addition to the lineup after Ice Wolves defenseman Gustav Blom was injured in Saturday evening’s time beyond regulation win by the Titans.

“I’ve received to present Jack all of the credit score on the earth. He’s accomplished that for us this 12 months, time in and outing,” Fox stated.

New Jersey pulled the goalie and managed an additional attacker aim with 90 seconds left in regulation to pressure time beyond regulation. The primary additional session was a back-and-forth affair with each groups killing two penalties and each goalies standing robust.

Proper winger Ryan Coughlin, who’s dedicated to Mercyhurst, lastly completed it within the second time beyond regulation. Their coach stated that taking part in all of his gamers within the additional session might have stored them recent.

“I’m the kind of coach that I don’t overreact to any state of affairs,” he stated. “Regardless of being down or up, follow what you imagine.”

Ice Wolves goalie Beni Halasz completed with 37 saves within the loss.

New Jersey 4, New Mexico 3, 2OT

New Mexico 0-2-1-0-0—3

New Jersey 0-1-2-0-1—4

First interval — No scoring. Penalties — William Howard, NM (roughing), 0:19; Anthony Mollica, NJ (roughing), 0:19; Owen Luik, NJ (slashing), 4:02; Dillan Bentley, NM (cross checking), 19:18.

Second interval — 1. NM, Alex Gomez 2 (unassisted), 0:25, (sh). 2. NJ, Brendan Dumas 2 (Tommy Bannister), 6:07. 3. NM, Brandon Holt 1 (Howard), 13:12, (pp). Penalties — Bentley, NM (roughing), 1:58; Dumas, NJ (tripping), 12:26; Eric Charpentier, NJ (holding), 14:37.

Third interval — 4. NJ, Dumas 3 (unassisted), 4:36. 5. NM, Jack Dalton 1 (Tony Leahy), 7:31. 6. NJ, Anthony Calafiore 3 (Nick Ring, David Posma), 18:30, (ea). Penalties — None.

Extra time 1 — No scoring. Penalties — Dumas, NJ (hooking), 3:17; Leahy, NM (tripping), 5:32; Nikolai Dulak NM (excessive sticking), 8:24; Chris Carroll, NJ (tripping), 12:19.

Extra time 2 — 7. NJ, Ryan Coughlin 6 (Bannister), 12:55, (pp). Penalties — Leahy, NM (holding), 6:12; Howard, NM (5-checking from behind, 10-misconduct), 9:46.

Photographs on aim — NM 11-9-12-10-7—49; NJ 6-7-12-8-8—41. Goalies — Beni Halasz, NM (41 shots-37 saves); Andrew Takacs, NJ (49-46). Energy performs — NM 1-of-6, NJ 1-of-8. Referees — Luke Gagnon, Austin O’Rourke. Linesmen — Ben Gawlik, Jacob Paugh. Att. — 1,022.