The Johnstown Tomahawks fall to the Maryland Black Bears 4-3, giving Maryland the weekend sweep in Saturday afternoon’s matchup.
The game started with a bit of a delay, due to an issue at the rink in Maryland. Just shy of four minutes into the game there was a lengthy pause as the game had to be relocated to another rink in the Ice World facility. After that, the two teams were flying on the ice with lots of back and forth action to start the game back up. Matt McQuade opened the scoring giving the Tomahawks the opening goal 9:46 into the period. Only a minute later, Maryland’s Luke Mountain tied the game at 1 as he snuck one behind Tomahawks goaltender Connor Strobel. With seven and a half minutes to go in the period, Anthony Mastromonica was called for a tripping penalty. The Tomahawks took advantage on the struggling Black Bears power play as John Gelatt scored a shorthanded goal. Gelatt leads the Tomahawks with six goals on the season already. After about an hour, the first period finally ended with the Tomahawks ahead 2-1.
The 2nd period started with urgency showing from both sides with more fast action. No one would find the back of the net until Drew Murphy extended the lead for the Tomahawks with just over ten minutes to go in the period. As time went on, Maryland’s Conor Cole would tighten the gap for the Black Bears making it 3-2 Hawks. Strobel had a series of big saves for the Tomahawks in the final few minutes of the period to keep the lead, but Cam Gaudette would tie the game up for the Black Bears with just ten seconds to go in the period.
The 3rd period would start tied at 3 with both sides desperately looking to take the lead. After a few back and forth penalties, Maryland’s Thomas Jarman converts netting a power play go-ahead goal with only five minutes to go in regulation. The Tomahawks would make a valiant effort to tie the game back up and force overtime, but could not seem to make it happen.
The Tomahawks head straight from Maryland to New Jersey as they will face off again tomorrow afternoon against the New Jersey Titans at 3:30 PM in Middletown.