TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15th, 2022: BLACK BEARS (5) at Philadelphia (2): The penalties came back to haunt Maryland early in the game on a cross-checking call. The Rebels would make no mistake on this chance, as David Deputy caught a Black Bear defender lose their footing and went near-side on Jack Wieneke to give Philadelphia the early lead. The Black Bears responded well after the goal with plenty of pressure on Jack Fialkoff, including a crossbar hit from Samuel Stitz’s redirection. Maryland would find pay-dirt with Dimitry Kebreau finishing off a solid play by Branden Piku’s drive to the net and Kebreau netted his 16th of the season and tied up the game. The Black Bears would get their power play goal back minutes later with Christian Catalano potting his 18th of the season with a ripper of a shot past Fialkoff to make it 2-1 Maryland. After the goal, the Rebels woke up a little more with plenty of pressure in the Maryland defensive zone, but Wieneke was equal to the task, making some big stops to keep the game at 2-1 going into the first intermission.

Maryland came out firing in the second, forcing Fialkoff to make some big saves in the first 90 seconds of play. The Black Bears were able to break the wall of Fialkoff, as Samuel Stitz came down the right side on a 2-on-1 and fired home his third of the year to increase the Black Bears lead to 3-1. Not content with that scoreline, the Black Bears continued the pressure and got a little luck, with Adam Schankula getting his third of the year by trying to center the puck, but went off a Rebels defender’s skate and behind Fialkoff for the 4-1 lead. Some back and forth play between the two squads didn’t yield much until Catalano picked up the puck from a Stitz pass in the neutral zone and weaved through the defense, leading to a backhander for his second of the night. That goal was Catalano’s 19th, tying him with Jackson Sterrett in 2019-20 for most by a Black Bear in a season.

Starting the final period, Maryland kept the pressure on; it was Philadelphia who would get the first goal of the frame. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Kristians Samitis put the puck behind Wieneke to make it 5-2 in favor of Maryland. The familiarity bred contempt between the two squads, with some pleasantries being exchanged and a couple of scrums after whistles. It was all for show, as the Black Bears continue their winning streak with a 5-2 win over the Rebels.

The Black Bears stay on the road for the weekend, as they will head back to Johnstown to take on the Tomahawks on Friday and Saturday nights, with coverage of both games on HockeyTV.