A bounce here, an extra stride there, and no one is debating the Northeast Generals couldn’t be 2-0 to start the season. However, following another close one-goal defeat to New Hampshire, they’ll have to settle for a single point through the opening weekend.

 

The debut weekend featured a 4-3 overtime loss to the New Hampshire Mountain Kings on Saturday, where the Generals never trailed until the final tally with four seconds left in overtime. Then on Sunday, although the Generals never led at any point, it was another excruciatingly close game that could have swung either way, but still ended in defeat to the Mountain Kings, 3-2.

 

Alternating goals in the first period led to a 2-2 tie heading into the second frame on Sunday. Braydon Hudtloff and Vinny Ipri provided the markers for the Generals, with both goals coming on the power play.

 

Special teams most certainly have not been an issue; in fact, they’ve been rock-solid to open the season. The Gens’ power play is clicking at 33.3% (3/9), while their penalty kill has yet to surrender a goal (9/9). Both Hudtloff’s and Ipri’s goals on Sunday came with the man advantage.

 

For Hudtloff, his tally gives him five points in his first five career games as a General, three of which came last season. Meanwhile, Ipri, who led all Gens’ defensemen in goals last season with eight, found his first of the year and nearly tied the game in the final seconds, but was handcuffed on a rebound attempt and couldn’t quite get a proper stick on it.

 

New Hampshire found their offense from Rogiero Cacciarelli and Ben Dias in the first period, with the game-winner coming from Taner Anctil in the second.

 

Keagin Wilson made his North American Hockey League debut in net for the Generals. After a tough start, allowing two goals on the opening two credited shots, he dialed in the rest of the way, stopping 20 of the next 21 he faced.

 

The Gens outshot the Mountain Kings 27-23, but Gavin Weeks’ 25 saves were enough for New Hampshire to secure the victory.

 

At the end of the day, the only statistics that truly matter are wins. However, following 124 minutes of hockey, the positives of gameplay still heavily outweigh the negatives as the Gens look to have a team poised to elevate themselves up the standings from last year’s 10th-place finish. A bounce here, an extra stride there, and we could be writing a much different story.

 

The Generals will return home for their highly anticipated home opener on Friday, September 19, when they host the Johnstown Tomahawks.

 

The home opener will feature FREE ADMISSION for all fans.