Game Preview: Johnstown vs. Keystone 1/16/15

Jan 14, 2015

Game Preview

vs. Keystone Ice Miners

Friday January 16th                   7 p.m.

            Tonight, the Johnstown Tomahawks close out a seven-game homestand against the Keystone Ice Miners. The Tomahawks and Ice Miners met just one week ago, with the Ice Miners winning 4-3 in a shootout. The teams will close out the weekend tomorrow night in Connellsville, leaving four games remaining on the schedule between the two teams.

            Following this weekend, the next meeting between the teams takes place Feb.  12 in Johnstown. The teams will meet in Connellsville March 18, before closing out the regular season with a home-and-home series March 27 and 28.

The Tomahawks

            Johnstown enters this weekend after going 0-2-1 against Keystone and Springfield last weekend. The Tomahawks fell to the Ice Miners in the shootout on Friday, before being swept by the Jr. Blues on Saturday and Sunday.

            The Tomahawks enter this weekend two points behind the Ice Miners for third place in the division and six points behind the Soo Eagles for second place. They lead Springfield by just one point  for fourth place in the division.

            Trevor Recktenwald leads the Tomahawks with 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists), while Casey Linkenheld and Cam Bleck each have 13 goals.

The Ice Miners

            Keystone returns to Johnstown after picking up the win last Friday. The game was the only one for the Ice Miners last weekend, after playing four games in five days the week before.

            The Ice Miners are 4-1-0 in their last five games, with the lone loss coming against Fairbanks Dec. 31. After tonight’s game, seven of the Ice Miners next ten games will be played on home ice.

            Taylor Fernandez leads Keystone with 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists), while Noah Batis leads the team with ten goals.

North Division

            All six North Division teams are in action this weekend, with Soo traveling to Janesville and Michigan traveling to Springfield. Janesville currently holds a 16 point lead over second place Soo.

Facts & Notes

· Five of the six meetings between the Tomahawks and Ice Miners have been one-goal games. The lone exception was the Tomahawks 5-1 win on Dec. 19.

· After tonight’s game, the Tomahawks begin an eight-game road trip to Janesville, Springfield, and Michigan.

· Tomahawks goaltender Ryan Bednard continues to make his way up the NAHL goaltender leaderboard. Bednard ranks second in the NAHL in saves (683) and third in minutes played (1509:12). His 25 appearances this season tie him with Janesville’s Matt Jurusik for fourth in the league.

· The Tomahawks penalty kill has been effective this season, especially in games here at the War Memorial. The Tomahawks rank first in the NAHL with a 90.6% penalty kill percentage at home The Tomahawks have allowed eight power-play goals in 85 opportunities at home this season.

· The Tomahawks have found success on Friday night this season, going 7-3-1 in Friday games. The Tomahawks are 4-0-1 in Friday home games, with the lone loss coming to the Ice Miners last week.

Current Streaks

· Johnstown

· Trevor Recktenwald: Six points in last five games (3 goals, 3 assists).

· Joe Drabin: Five assists in last five games

· Casey Linkenheld: Eight points in last five games (5 goals, 3 assists)

· Keystone

· Jacob Coleman: Assists in four of his last five games (6 Assists)

· Brendan Jaquay: Five goals in his last five games

· Alex Blankenburg: Three straight wins