JOHNSTOWN – A five-point night from Carson Brière pushed the Johnstown Tomahawks to a 7-3 win over New Jersey Friday night.
Both teams came out scrapping as Mitch Hale and Eric Manoukian each dropped the gloves within the first minute of play.
The Tomahawks would benefit from the scrap as Bennett Stockdale chipped in a rebound from Roman Kraemer for a 1-0 Tomahawks lead. Alex Wilkins registered the secondary assist on Stockdale’s eighth of the season.
Stockdale struck again at 9:54 with his second of the night, finishing a Brière attempt on Titans netminder Ryan Winter.
Johnstown increased its advantage to 3-0 at the 10:59 mark of the first period with a goal from Pavel Kharin, his fifth of the season. Brière and Kraemer assisted on the goal.
The Tomahawks continued the onslaught in the second period when Mitch Hale’s shot sneaked by new Titans goalie Brandon Perrone five-hole. Hale’s 10th of the season was assisted by Brière.
Brière continued his torrid scoring pace on the power play with a goal, his 20th of the year and 15th power play goal of the season. Kraemer and Solensky assisted on the goal.
New Jersey cracked the Tomahawks netminder Carter McPhail late in the period after a power play goal from Mike Outzen.
The Titans wasted little time cutting the Tomahawks lead to 5-2. Just 18 seconds into the third period, Kyle Jeffers potted his 18th of the season past McPhail.
The Tomahawks would increase the lead to 6-2 when Solensky found the twine. His 17th of the season was assisted by Kraemer, who had four assists in the game, and Oliver Benwell.
Brière added point No. 5 on the evening with his 21st goal of the season assisted by Hale.
That was followed by a goal from Titans forward Ryan Naumovski which set the final at 7-3.
In his 16th win of the season, McPhail moved his overall record to 16-2-0. Winter sustained the loss, his first, for a record of 6-1-0.
Both teams return to the ice tomorrow evening for the traditional Teddy Bear Toss game at 7 p.m. at 1st Summit Arena.
