In its final home game in 2022, the Maryland Black Bears aimed to snap a six game against the Philadelphia Rebels, the team that had beaten them 3-1 the night before. Despite trailing 4-2 in the third period, the Maryland Black Bears stormed back to win the game 5-4 in overtime.

The Rebels got the scoring started with a wrist shot goal from the far circle by forward Maxwell Hamstad to make it 1-0. Just over two minutes later, Maryland responded with a goal from its captain, forward Brad McNeil. McNeil received the puck from behind the net from forward Dimitry Kebreau and ripped the shot to the right side past Philadelphia goalie Jakub Krbecek to tie it 1-1. The Rebels responded just over a minute later with a rebound goal from forward Charles Panchisin to give Philadelphia a 2-1 lead. But in the dying minutes of the first period, the Black Bears got a game tying powerplay goal from forward Braden Piku, who snapped a shot five-hole to make it 2-2.

The Rebels got the lone goal in the second period on the powerplay, with forward David Deputy chipping the puck past Maryland goaltender Jack Wieneke to make it 3-2. Philadelphia got another goal from Hamstad just 17 seconds into the third period, burying a rebound in the crease to make it 4-2. However, Maryland wouldn’t give up and kept the pressure on. This led to a give and go with Black Bears’ forward Brayden Stannard dropping the puck to forward Hunter Ramos, who returned it to Stannard on the near side to bury into the empty cage to make it 4-3. Then, with just under five minutes to go, Maryland defenseman Gunnar VanDamme drove the net and redirected a pass from Braden Piku into the net for a 4-4 tie. The goal was initially waved off by the officials as the net had come off as VanDamme drove the net. But after a lengthy discussion, they counted the goal. This led to the first overtime game for Maryland at Piney Orchard Ice Arena this season.

In overtime, Jakub Krbecek ended up punching Black Bears’ forward Samuel Stitz after the two collided. This resulted in a two minute minor for Stitz and an ejection plus five minute major issued to Krbecek. The Rebels had to play its emergency backup goaltender, Pete Dunckel, who saw his first taste of NAHL action.

After Stitz’s penalty was up, Maryland headed to the powerplay, where Branden Piku scored on the one-timer to end it with his second powerplay goal of the game and a 5-4 Black Bears’ win. This was Maryland’s first overtime win of the season.

The Black Bears hit the road next weekend to play the Maine Nordiques on December 16th and 17th. Maryland returns to action after that in 2023, when they hit the ice at Piney Orchard Ice Arena against the Maine Nordiques once again on January 6th and 7th with puck drop scheduled for both nights at 7:30 PM ET. All games can be streamed on HockeyTV.