The Black Bears were frustrated after a tough 5-4 overtime loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights the night before and looked to rewrite the script. They did just that in game two, riding a red hot power-play unit to a 5-2 win.
The Knights struck first thanks to forward Lincoln Hatten, who was able to win a puck battle and scored on a breakaway to make it 1-0. The Black Bears responded with its first of three power-play goals. Garrett Szydlowski received a pass in the high slot from Wilmer Skoog and he shot the puck top left side past Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalie, Alex Contey to tie the game 1-1.
Hatten tallied his second of the game on the backhand to make it 2-1 for the Knights; however, Maryland responded with another power-play goal to tie the game, 2-2. Jack Hillman shot the puck on goal and it was redirected by Aden Bruich for the goal. The goal was Bruich’s first as a Black Bear since being drafted to the team this past June with the fourth overall pick. As the period came to a close, Maryland had a two-man power-play advantage and capitalized on the opportunity with Hampus Rydqvist’s second goal of the series with a slap shot to make it 3-2.
Rydqvist scored on another slap shot to start the third period to make it 4-2. The Black Bears concluded the scoring with Kyle Oleksiuk cashing in one a three-on-one rush. Cameron Recchi held the puck while Ethan Hiedepriem drew the defenseman to the net, allowing Recchi to pass the puck across to Oleksiuk for the goal. The Black Bears held on for a 5-2 win, its first home win of the season.
Maryland will return to action against the Johnstown Tomahawks Friday, November 1st at Piney Orchard Ice Arena with a puck drop time of 7:45 PM ET.
