Tomahawks Cap Opening Weekend with 6-4 Win

Sep 11, 2016

PITTSTON, Pa – In a back-and-forth contest, the Johnstown Tomahawks used a four-goal third period to defeat the Wilkes-Barrre/Scranton Knights 6-4 at Revolution Ice Centre Saturday night.

The Tomahawks cracked a scoreless tie midway through the first frame after Josh Norman collected a rebound and fired it past Knights goaltender Grant Valentine. Riley Doyon assisted on Norman’s first of the season.

With time ticking away in the first period, the Knights tied the game when Braden Brown one-timed a shot past Tomahawks goalie Vinnie Purpura.

In the second period, the Knights would take the lead 2-1 after Matt Kidney fired a shorthanded goal.

However, seconds later, Tomahawks forward Donovan Ott scored his second goal in as many nights to tie the game at 2-2.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton regained the lead with a Markuss Komuls power play goal to send both teams into the second intermission.

The third period brought out the offense for both teams.

Johnstown knotted the game once again three minutes into the third period. Dalton Hunter wrapped the puck around the net that squeaked past the pad of Valentine.

The Tomahawks took the lead off a Nick Bruce goal but that quickly answered by Vincent Marino of the Knights to make it 4-4.

Two minutes later, Hunter gathered a loose puck in the offensive zone, made a move around a Knights defenseman and wristed a shot glove side past Valentine to give Johnstown the 5-4 lead.

The contest was put away with a Tommy Horn empty-net goal to set the final at 6-4.

Purpura won his first start in the North American Hockey League stopping 40 of 44 shots in the victory. Valentine halted 22 of 28 Tomahawks volleys.

The Tomahawks will now have a week off of competition before traveling to Blaine, Minn., for the NAHL Showcase. The team faces the Springfield Jr. Blues on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 12:15 p.m.