(Photo of Joe Drabin at the War Memorial earlier this season/Photo Credit: Phil Andraychak)
Joe Drabin scored two goals, including the game-winner with 40 seconds remaining in regulation, as the Johnstown Tomahawks defeated the Soo Eagles 3-2 on Saturday night in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The regulation win puts the Tomahawks seven points behind the Eagles for second place and one point behind Springfield and Michigan for third place in the division.
Dakoda Menslage got the Tomahawks on the board first, scoring on the power-play 3:30 into the first period. Drabin had the assist on Menslage’s fourth goal of the season.
Later in the first period, Drabin extended the Tomahawks lead to 2-0. Trevor Recktenwald earned the primary assist, while Ian Spencer earned the other assist in his first game back as a member of the Tomahawks. Spencer spent 53 games with the Tomahawks during the 2012-13 season, scoring 21 points (5G-16A).
Denver Pierce had an opportunity to cut the deficit to one with a penalty shot at 8:51 of the second period, but he was stopped by Ryan Bednard. Less than a minute later, Mitch Vanderburg got the Eagles on the board. Trevor Cope earned the assist on the power-play goal.
Pierce tied the game 1:56 into the period, with Drew Holcombe and Kristofers Bindulis earning the assists.
The score remained the same until Drabin connected on the game-winner at 19:20, setting the final at 3-2. Dalton Hunter and Recktenwald earned the assists on the game-winning goal.
Ryan Bednard earned the win, stopping 37 of 39 shots. Sean Keating took the loss for the Eagles, stopping 25 of 28 shots. The Tomahawks went 1-for-5 on the power-play and 7-for-8 on the penalty kill.
The Tomahawks conclude their weekend series against Soo on Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. They return home to take on Janesville Nov. 28 and 29. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.johnstowntomahawks.com or call 814-536-4625.