Tomahawks Play Extra Hockey, Defeat Ice Miners 4-3

Oct 25, 2014

 

For the first time this season, the Johnstown Tomahawks played a game that needed extra time to be settled. In the end, Tanner Barnes scored in the shootout, and Ryan Bednard stopped all five Keystone shootout opportunities, as Johnstown defeated Keystone 4-3 on Sunday afternoon in Connellsville. The win is the Tomahawks first against the Ice Miners this season.

Johnstown got on the board first, as Joe Drabin took the rebound from Trevor Recktenwald’s initial shot, putting it past the left side of Keystone goaltender Alex Blankenburg 3:03 into the first period. The goal is Drabin’s fourth of the season and first on the power-play.

Taylor Fernandez tied the game 33 seconds into the second period, scoring an unassisted goal on a shot from above the left face-off circle.

The Tomahawks regained the lead later in the period, taking advantage of a bad pass, before converting a three-on-one opportunity. Casey Linkenheld scored, taking a pass from Cam Bleck in front of Blankenburg and burying it into the left side of the net for his second goal of the weekend.

Early in the third period, Keystone tied the game for the second time, as Noah Batis scored at 1:19. Vito Aluia and Alex Archibald earned the assists on the goal.

The Ice Miners took their first lead of the game at 9:39, as Batis scored his second goal of the game. Jon Hall and Michael Maiden each got assists on the power-play goal.

Just 21 seconds later, Luke Lynch tied the game back up, as his shot from the right side of Blankenburg made it under the crossbar. Andrew Romano provided the pass on Lynch’s third goal of the season.

After a scoreless overtime, the game went to a shootout, where Tanner Barnes scored the lone goal, deking Blankenburg before shooting past his left pad.

Bednard earned the win, stopping 36 of 39 shots in regulation, and all five shots he faced in overtime. Blankenburg took the loss, allowing three goals on 28 shots in regulation, and the game-winner in the shootout. The Tomahawks were 1-for-4 on the power-play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.

The Tomahawks travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. to take on the Soo Eagles next Friday and Saturday. They return home to take on the Michigan Warriors Nov. 7-9. For more information, visit www.johnstowntomahawks.com or call 814-536-GOAL.