Game Preview: Johnstown @ Soo 1/3/2014

Jan 1, 2014

Johnstown at Soo

Friday January 3rd

7:30 p.m. EST

 

The Series

              The Tomahawks and Eagles meet for a three-game series in Michigan this weekend, their first meeting since Oct. 24-26. The Tomahawks and Eagles have split their first six meetings this season, with the Tomahawks winning two of the three in Sault Ste. Marie and Soo winning two of the three in Johnstown.

In their most recent meeting,  Trevor Recktenwald got the Tomahawks on the board, before Soo scored three first period goals to take a 3-1 lead after one period. Joe Drabin scored twice in a six minute span to tie the game, before Mike Sabatini scored the game-winner at 14:45 of the third period.

Following this weekend’s games, the Tomahawks and Eagles will meet in Johnstown for the final time in the regular season March 21-23.

The Tomahawks

The Tomahawks enter this weekend’s series after sweeping the Michigan Warriors on Monday & Tuesday.  The  Tomahawks have won three straight games and sit three points    behind Port Huron for first place in the division.

The Eagles

The Eagles  return to  action after twelve days off,  looking to continue their winning ways. The Eagles have won four of their last five, and have registered points in all five games. In their most recent series, the Eagles fell to Port Huron in the shootout 3-2, before bouncing back for a 4-3 shootout win in the second game. Soo is currently in last place in the division, just one point out of fifth place and two points out of fourth.

Division Preview

All six teams in the north division meet in division match-ups this weekend, with Port Huron hosting Janesville and  Michigan hosting Springfield.  The match-ups this weekend can have a major impact on the standings as all six teams move further into the second half of the season.

Key Stats

· Jordan Watt, Brandon Reinholz, and Mitch Hall lead the Tomahawks with four points in six games against the Eagles.

· The Tomahawks are 10-0-1 when leading after two periods, and 12-3-2 in one –goal games.

· Shane Bednard and Matthew Meier each have three goals in their last five games.