Game Preview: Johnstown vs. New Jersey

Jan 28, 2016

The Johnstown Tomahawks head east this weekend for a pair of games against the New Jersey Titans. Johnstown and New Jersey are currently tied for second place in the East Division, three points behind the Aston Rebels and 13 points ahead of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Series

The Tomahawks and Titans have battled 12 times this season, with the Titans coming out on top in seven of those 12 meetings. Johnstown is 2-2 in games played at Middletown Ice World, including the most recent meeting between the two teams Jan. 16.

The Tomahawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead, as Tiernan Seningen picked up his first goal of the season at 15:07 of the first period. The Titans tied the game on a Bruno Birzitis goal at 16:04, before Niko Coffman regained the lead just 26 seconds later.

New Jersey responded 8:45 into the second period, as Adam Hascic tied the game. The game was deadlocked until Casey Linkenheld took the lead back with a power-play goal at 13:19. Anthony Parrucci gave Johnstown a two-goal cushion, making it 4-2 with 10 seconds left in the second period.

Filips Buncis extended the lead with a power-play goal at 14:49 of the third period. The goal was the first for Buncis since scoring against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Nov. 13.

The Titans pulled back within two, as Roberts Smits scored a six-on-three goal with 4:03 remaining in regulation. They made it a 5-4 game, as Raymond Brice scored with 1:09 left on the clock. Buncis sealed the game 47 seconds later with an empty net goal.

Andrew Lindgren earned the win, stopping 25 of 28 shots. Spencer Wright suffered the loss allowing five goals on 21 shots. The Tomahawks went 2-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.

Alex Alger leads the Tomahawks with nine assists against the Titans this season. Niko Coffman and Andrew Romano each have eight points against the Titans. Both Ryan Glander and Andrew Lindgren have two wins against New Jersey this season.

Raymond Brice and Bruno Birzitis lead New Jersey with 11 points each against Johnstown. Brice leads the team with eight goals against the Tomahawks, while Birzitis leads the way with eight assists.

Following this weekend’s games the Tomahawks and Titans meet two more time this season. The teams battle next Saturday, before closing out their season series March 5.

Stats and Notes

  • Johnstown has won its last three road games.

 

  • New Jersey is 12-5-1 when outshooting its opponent this season.

 

  • Johnstown is 11-3-4 in one-goal games this season. Four of the Tomahawks five wins against the Titans have been one-goal victories.

 

  • In the other East Division series this weekend, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights take on the Aston Rebels in a home-and-home series.