The Maryland Black Bears remain on top in the East Division as the first seed after splitting a pair of games against the Northeast Generals, sitting at 10-2-1 with 21 points on the season. As they move to the second weekend of a four-weekend road trip, the Black Bears get set to face another challenge: the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. New Hampshire is currently fourth in the division with a record of 6-5-1 with 13 points.

It was a pair of low-scoring games last weekend for Maryland against the Northeast Generals. The Black Bears and Generals combined for seven goals over two games, which is the lowest-scoring set of games Maryland has been involved in this season. The Black Bears took game one 2-1 despite trailing 1-0 heading into the third period. Forward Matthew Shpungin tied the game with just over seven minutes to go in the third period and, just two minutes and 16 seconds later, Maryland pulled ahead with a turnaround shot in the slot from forward Will Schletchtweg to make the score 2-1, a lead the Black Bears would not relinquish. Cole Werthman made 29 saves in his fourth win of the season. His 29 saves were his second-highest save total in a single game this season. Northeast responded with a 3-1 win the following night. Maryland once again entered the final frame down 1-0 before a shorthanded goal by Shpungin tied the game 1-1. However, the Generals would get two late goals, including an empty-net goal, to win 3-1. Michael Iliff made 28 saves for the Black Bears.

New Hampshire is off to a good start to the season, yet the Mountain Kings have yet to sweep a weekend series this weekend. Last weekend, they split a pair of games with the Danbury Hat Tricks, the third time New Hampshire has split a series this season. Game one saw the Mountain Kings fall behind big time, trailing 4-0 early in the second period. New Hampshire responded with goals from forwards Dylan Podergois and Benjamin Short to cut the deficit to 4-2. Danbury responded to make it 5-2 later in the frame before Short scored his second of the period to make the score 5-3. Forward Evan Ferraro cut into the deficit further with an early third period goal to make it 5-4 before the Hat Tricks sealed the deal with a pair of third period goals later in the frame to secure a 7-4 win. The Mountain Kings responded with a much stronger start in game two, getting first period goals from Podergois, as well as forward Nicolas Vrtiel, for a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. Short added to the lead in the second period to make it 3-1, Short’s third goal of the weekend, and forward Aidan Patton added to the lead just under a minute later to make the score 4-1. Danbury would fight back to make the score 4-3, but third period goals from forwards Jackson Shaddick and Ben Dias iced the game with the final score of 6-3. Ethan Moser made 27 saves for New Hampshire in the win. The Mountain Kings also lost a Wednesday night game to the Northeast Generals 3-2, with Short along with defenseman Deke Davidson getting the goals for New Hampshire.

The Black Bears dominated the season series with the Mountain Kings, winning all six games between the two teams while outscoring New Hampshire 34-11. Maryland scored at least four goals in all six games.

Players to Watch:

Matthew Shpungin (F, MYD): Shpungin has been a driving force for Maryland’s offense as of late. He has goals in three straight games, and an eight-game point streak where he has recorded six goals and five assists for 11 points. Shpungin currently leads the Black Bears in points with 15 and is tied with forward Brayden Wade for team lead in goals with seven.

Aidan Petroff (F, NHW): Petroff has been unstoppable this season, recording at least one point so far in every game he’s played in. He’s currently second in the NAHL in assists with 15 and points with 21. Petroff is well on his way to shattering his career-best season last year, scoring 34 points in 50 games played between Maryland, where he scored one goal in ten games, and New Hampshire, where he scored 17 goals and 33 points in 40 games. 

The Black Bears and Mountain Kings will take the ice on Friday, October 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, October 24th, at 6:00 p.m. ET at Delta Dental Arena. All games can be streamed on NATV.