AUBURN – The Johnstown Tomahawks (14-11-4) needed extra time but were able to complete the road sweep of the Maine Nordiques (18-8-3) by winning 3-2 in Overtime on Saturday, December 13th. The Tomahawks gave back the cage to Zack Ferris and he didn’t disappoint turning aside 34 of 36 Maine shots in the victory. Newest Tomahawk forward, William Stewart scored the OT winning goal in just his 2nd game with the team. Jack Genovese recorded two assists, one coming on the game-winning Stewart goal. The Nordiques got goals from Jack Klevby and Rylan Oster.
The Tomahawks entered Saturday night riding the momentum of one of their biggest and most important wins of the season on Friday, looking to keep things rolling against the Nordiques. For the first time in their recent meetings, it was the Tomahawks who took the game’s opening penalty, as Kalib Capecci was sent off for roughing just under five minutes in, giving the Nordiques an early power-play opportunity. Johnstown’s penalty kill stood tall, and moments later, the momentum swung the other way. Immediately following the successful kill, the Tomahawks went to their first power play of the night, and it didn’t take long to capitalize. Just 14 seconds in, Charlie Zetterkvist buried a chance to give Johnstown a 1–0 lead, finishing off a beautiful no-look pass from Jack Genovese, who slid the puck back into the slot. Capecci made up for his early penalty on the play firing the initial shot from the point and earning the secondary assist. The Tomahawks PK was tested once more a few minutes later when they were whistled for tripping, but the penalty kill answered the call again, keeping the Nordiques off the scoreboard. Johnstown controlled much of the opening frame, playing a strong all-around period while protecting their one-goal advantage. After 20 minutes of play, the Tomahawks held a 1–0 lead and a 10–6 edge in shots on goal
The second period began with a familiar theme from the weekend, as the Tomahawks once again took the ice to begin a period with a lead. Another trend that has shown itself in recent Johnstown games continued as well, with the pace moving quickly thanks to improved discipline on both sides, fewer whistles, and limited scoring chances. Despite the 1-0 deficit, Maine was doing a good job of staying in it and keeping the game within striking distance. At the midway point of the period, the Tomahawks were tested for the third time on the penalty kill, and once again the unit rose to the occasion, turning away another Nordiques power play opportunity. A few minutes later, Johnstown earned its third man-advantage of the night, presenting a prime opportunity to carry a 2–0 lead into the locker room as the period ticked away. However, after just 50 seconds on the power play, the Tomahawks were whistled for cross-checking, bringing the play to 4-on-4, something that seems to happen more and more with every game against the Nords this season. Once the 4-on-4 expired and the Tomahawks returned to the abbreviated penalty kill, the Nordiques capitalized late. With just 10 seconds remaining on their power play, Jack Klevby found the back of the net, tying the game at one and swinging some momentum heading into the third. After 40 minutes of play, the game was deadlocked at 1–1, with Johnstown still holding the edge in shots on goal, 19–14.
Just as momentum seemed to be swinging toward the Nordiques after their late second-period goal, Maine handed it right back early in the third. Just 1:10 into the frame, the Nordiques were whistled for slashing, sending the Tomahawks back to the power play with a chance to regain the lead. Johnstown generated some solid looks, and when Maine took another penalty for high sticking 1:20 into the man advantage, the Tomahawks were awarded a brief 5-on-3 opportunity, which normally would become the turning point in a tight contest in the 3rd period but despite the golden chance, the game remained tied as the tight-checking hockey continued throughout the period. Maine earned their own opportunity to take the lead when Alex Gomes was sent off for hooking with 12:18 remaining, but for the second time on the night, the Nordiques cut their power play short by taking a penalty of their own, sending the teams back to 4-on-4. Chances opened up as the period wore on, with both goaltenders facing quality looks. Zack Ferris returned to the crease for Johnstown after Nikita Oleksiienko’s strong performance Friday night and looked every bit as sharp, bringing his usual calm presence with some added swagger as the stakes continued to rise. With just under nine minutes to play, the Tomahawks were tasked with their sixth penalty kill of the night after Kalib Capecci was sent off for the second time tonight, this time for slashing, and once again the unit delivered. In his first shift after exiting the box, Capecci made amends in the biggest way possible. With 5:20 remaining, he took a pass from Nick Metelkin at his left point spot and fired one that found its way into the back of the net for the go-ahead goal to give Johnstown a 2–1 lead. The goal marked Capecci’s second in as many nights as he continues his strong offensive production from the blue line. Maine pushed hard over the final five minutes, pulling their goaltender and throwing everything they had at Ferris. The Tomahawks netminder turned aside chance after chance, but with 28 seconds remaining, Rylan Oster found the back of the net, scoring his second goal of the weekend and forcing overtime. It marked the fourth overtime game between the two teams in six meetings this season, further highlighting how evenly matched most of the contests have been. The 3-on-3 overtime lived up to it’s known style immediately. Maine came out with jump, and Ferris rose to the occasion, denying Nordiques captain Damon Myers twice in spectacular fashion—first on a full-split breakaway save, and moments later by robbing him with the glove off a dangerous chance from the left circle to keep the game alive. Shortly after the heroic stops, the Tomahawks used the momentum to strike. Jack Genovese went in hard on the forecheck and slipped a slick backhand pass to newcomer William Stewart, who wasted no time snapping a bar-down shot to seal a 3–2 overtime victory and complete the weekend sweep in Maine. The goal was Stewart’s second in as many games for the Tomahawks after sealing Friday night’s game with the empty netter.
Your Johnstown Tomahawks will look to really turn a corner on their season this weekend as we are back home to host the New Hampshire Mountain Kings for the first matchup this season! Action will begin at 7:30PM on Friday, December 19th. We’ll be celebrating the holiday season all weekend long as Friday will be “Hawkidays with Santa” and Saturday will be the fan-favorite TEDDY BEAR TOSS! Get your tickets for the home stand HERE https://www.ticketmaster.com/johnstown-tomahawks-tickets/artist/1760594.Catch all of the action on NAHLTV and follow our social media accounts @tomahawkshockey to keep in the loop.
BY: DREW P. PFEIL