MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — New Jersey picked up a three-goal lead through two periods of play and was able to hang on for a 3-2 win over Jamestown in Game 4 of the North American Hockey League East Division semifinals at Middletown Ice World Arena on Saturday night.

With the series deadlocked at two games apiece, the Rebels will return home for Game 5 at 7 p.m. on Monday at Northwest Arena, hoping to move on to face top-seeded Johnstown, a 4-2 winner over No. 4 Northeast in Game 5 on Saturday.

The Rebels continued to outplay the Titans for extended stretches of time, including early in Friday night’s contest, but Jamestown is still suffering from a short roster and inopportune penalties.

“The first ten minutes of the game it was all us,” head coach Joe Coombs said by phone after the loss, “and then we took a penalty. From there they gained some momentum and got a goal. They scored and then a couple of minutes later they ended up with another one and we didn’t respond after the second.”

Kyle Jeffers put the hosts on the board 10 seconds into a power play at 11:46 of the first after Alex Frye was sent to the box for hooking. Zach Nazzarett doubled New Jersey’s lead one minute later on feeds by Ryan Naumovski and Gavin Gulash.

Nazzarett added his second of the postseason to give the Titans a 3-0 lead with time winding down in the second period on passes by Mac Wiseman and Chris Garbe.

“Our bench is really, really short and we took way to many penalties, You aren’t going to beat any team when you are taking the penalties we are taking,” Coombs said. “We didn’t play well in two road games. I’m not happy. I thought that we could sneak one out with a short roster. We’re going to come back home and have to find a way to get it done on Monday.”

Sam Anzai scored his first of the postseason on the power play while Alex Roy grabbed his third assist as the Rebels finally got on the board at 8:42 of the third period.

With three minutes remaining in regulation Roy put the Rebels within a goal, scoring his second of the playoffs on a pass by Mason Kruse.

Jamestown finished the night 1 of 6 on the power play while New Jersey was 1 for 5.

“It has been OK at times and other times it hasn’t,” Coombs said of his team’s power play. “Special teams are a game changer and the two games here it has been a game changer.”

Goaltender Ryan Keane stopped just 12 of 15 shots for Jamestown while Brandon Perrone posted another strong performance, stopping 25 pucks in the win.