Weekend Preview: Johnstown vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Mar 31, 2016

The Johnstown Tomahawks close out the regular season this weekend, taking on the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights here at the War Memorial. The Tomahawks are locked into third place in the East Division, while the Knights will enter the postseason in fourth place.

The Tomahawks have controlled the season series, taking nine of the 14 meetings. Johnstown has won the last three meetings overall, and the last four at the War Memorial.

The teams last met March 11 and 12 at the War Memorial, with the Tomahawks coming back to take the first meeting 5-3. The Knights took the early lead, as Tim Gelatt scored 1:41 into the first period.

Luke Picek tied the game just over a minute later, before goals by Dmitriy Zaitsev and Zach Remers made it 3-1 Knights early in the second period. The Tomahawks responded with second period goals by Dalton Hunter and Tommy Horn, tying the game after 40 minutes.

Casey Linkenheld gave Johnstown its first lead of the game, scoring with 6:49 remaining in regulation. Ryan Burr set the final score on a power-play goal with 34 seconds remaining on the clock. Andrew Lindgren earned the victory, stopping 23 of 26 shots.

In the weekend finale, the Tomahawks and Knights were scoreless for nearly 50 minutes, until Tommy Horn got Johnstown on the board at 9:39 of the third period. Anthony Parrucci extended the lead to two, scoring with 7:18 left in the third period. Brendan Jaquay set the final score with an empty net goal at 18:13. Lindgren earned the shutout victory, stopping 34 shots.

Luke Lynch leads the Tomahawks with 19 points (ten goals, nine assists) against the Knights. Andrew Romano leads the team with 10 assists, while goaltender Andrew Lindgren has six wins against the Knights.

Tanner Bennett leads the Knights with 12 points against the Tomahawks, while Stephen Kelly leads the way with seven goals. Goaltender Grant Valentine has three wins, including a shutout, against Johnstown.

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