Just a night after a defeating Hackensack 5-4 on a night where any bounce could have cost the Rebels, Howell was back on the ice in Wall.
This time, the Rebels had no plans for such a close game.
Howell (16-5-1, no. 25) scored four goals in the first period, cruising to an 8-3 win over Manalapan (2-14-4, no. 111), on Saturday night at Gold Coast Arena in Wall.
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"After a tough win yesterday, we definitely came back and played our game," Howell head coach Bill Daley said. "We had some fun with it."
Brandon Aiena highlighted the night, scoring his first two varsity goals and led an impressive third line that saw a lot of ice time for Howell.
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"They're aren't going to see a regular shift," Daley said of the third-liners. "But they are definitely earning time and they will see ice every game."
Seniors Brandon Hodes, Greg Buckley and Eddie Pyskaty all scored in the first period as well for Howell, as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead.
The Rebels only scored four more goals over the final two periods -- one from Aiena, two from Pyskaty and one from senior Mike Liero -- but it would be enough as James Bodeker turned away 15 of Manalapan's 18 shots, earning his second win in three games for the Rebels.
Howell killed off a 59-second 5-on-3 disadvantage early on and never looked back.
The Rebels were unable to connect on a power play of their own in the second period. It was their only extra-man-advantage.
Pyskaty finished with a hat trick and an assist while Buckley had two points on a goal and an assist.
Senior Mike Kochenash assisted Pyskaty's first goal in the first period as the first line of Pyskaty, Kochenash and Liero all looked strong once again for Howell, which will look to improve in the rankings heading into the Handchen Cup.
Up next, the Rebels will travel to the Red Bank Armory to take on RBC. The game was originally supposed to be played on Jan. 9 but was pushed back due to snow.
"We'll have to see how practice goes Monday," Daley responded when asked if his Rebels were ready to take on the Caseys.
The game against RBC has no implications for the Handchen Cup, as seedings will have already be set, but it will impact state playoff seedings.
