Game Preview: Johnstown @ Port Huron 1/18/2014

Jan 17, 2014

Johnstown at Port Huron
Saturday January 18th
7 p.m. EST

Last Night
    The Johnstown Tomahawks defeated the Fighting Falcons last night 4-2, with goals being scored by four different Tomahawks. Logan Hudson got the Tomahawks on the board, scoring his first goal of the season at 7:21 of the first period. Tommy Hall added an assist on the goal, his first since Dec. 14. Later in the period, Bryce VanHorn tied the game for Port Huron at 11:27.
        

    In the second period, the Tomahawks jumped out to a 3-1 lead, thanks to a shorthanded goal by Joe Drabin at 4:44 and a power-play goal by Cody Bentzel at 6:57. Bentzel added an assist on the first goal, while Tyler Basham and Zach Wallace added assists on the power-play goal. 

    

    Vito Aluia scored at 14:41 of the second to cut the Port Huron deficit to one. The score remained the same until Matthew Meier scored an empty net goal with 16 seconds remaining in regulation to set the final score at 4-2. Meier now has points in four straight games (3G-3A).
    

    Jake Moore earned the win, stopping 43 of 45 shots. Alex Blankenburg took the loss, allowing three goals on 27 shots. The Tomahawks went 1-for-4 on the power play, while scoring a shorthanded goal for the fourth time this season. They held the Port Huron to one goal on five power-play opportunities.

Division Preview

    Last night, Soo defeated Janesville 3-2 in the other divisional game. Topeka defeated Springfield 3-0 in a non-divisional game. The Tomahawks are now five points behind Port Huron, while extending their lead to four points over third place Michigan, who is idle this weekend.

Key Stats

  • The Tomahawks are tied for fifth in the league with four shorthanded goals.
  • Mitch Hall has assists in four straight games.
  • Alex Archibald and Zach Badalamenti each have eight points against the Tomahawks this
  • season.
  • The Tomahawks are 15-2-2 when scoring first this season.