Game Preview: Johnstown @ Michigan 12/20/2013

Dec 18, 2013

Johnstown @ Michigan

December 20, 2013

Perani Arena     Flint Mich.

The Series

    The Tomahawks and Warriors meet this weekend for the first time since October 11 & 12. The teams split the series in October, with the Warriors winning the first game 3-2 and the Tomahawks taking the second game 4-3 in the shootout. The teams are currently second and third in the NAHL North division, with Johnstown leading Michigan by one point.

    The teams will meet eight more times this season, with six of the eight meeting occurring in Johnstown. The teams will not meet again in Flint until February 28th.

The Tomahawks

    Johnstown comes into this weekends game after splitting a weekend series with the Port Huron Fighting Falcons.  In the first game, the Fighting Falcons jumped out to a 4-1 lead before Jordan Watt and Trevor Recktenwald brought the Tomahawks back within one.  The Fighting Falcons got an empty net goal from Nick Horne to set the final at 5-3.

    In the second game, the Tomahawks and  Fighting Falcons went scoreless for the first two periods, before combining for four goals in the third period. The Tomahawks came out on top 3-1, thanks to goals from Josh Bowes, Watt, and Shane Bednard.

    The Tomahawks are 6-3-1 in their last ten games and 3-2-1 through six games of this road trip.

The Warriors

    Michigan enters this weekend’s series against the Tomahawks after falling to Soo 4-2 on Thursday night. The Warriors got goals from Colin Larkin and Tyler Groat to tie the game, before Soo scored a pair of third period goals to set the final score.

    Last weekend the Warriors were swept by the Eagles in Sault Ste. Marie, falling 3-2 on Friday night and 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday night. The Warriors have earned a point in three of their last five games, including a pair of wins over Port Huron. 

Key Stats

· Michigan is 9-3-3 at home this season

· Mitch Hall is currently on a five game point streak. He has earned 11 points (2G-9A) in his last ten games.

· Shane Bednard has goals in three of his last four games.

· Michigan is 0-3 in overtime games this season.