The Tomahawks defeated the New Jersey Titans in a dominating fashion by a final score of 8-1 Friday night in Johnstown.
The game started with a penalty going to Johnstown’s Max Neill 3:46 into the game for slashing. The Tomahawks successfully kill off the penalty and a few minutes later, Reed Stark opens the scoring, putting the puck past New Jersey goaltender Christian Stoever. Exactly six minutes later, Stark sneaks another one behind Stoever to score his eighth goal of the season and second of the game. The secondary assist went to Zach Stoner, who made his debut with the Tomahawks Friday night. With only 17 seconds remaining in the period, John Gelatt gets called for slashing, leaving the Titans with a power play to finish the 1st and to start the 2nd period.
The Tomahawks kill of the penalty and 5:24 into the period, Stoner gets sent off for tripping as he got tangled up with a New Jersey player. The Tomahawks successfully kill off the penalty again, then get rewarded with a power play opportunity of their own as New Jersey’s Austin Cook was sent off for roughing. The Tomahawks power play unit continued their success as John Gelatt scored his 21st goal of the season to make it 3-0 Hawks. Exactly six minutes later again, Daniel Tkac scored his fifth goal of the season, making it 5-0 and ending the night for Titans goaltender Christian Stoever as Louden Hogg took over in net for New Jersey. The changed in net set off a spark for New Jersey as Zach Nazzarett got the Titans on the board to make it 5-1 just before the 2nd period ends.
The 3rd period began with a series of penalties going to the Titans leaving the Tomahawks with both one and two-man advantages throughout the first half of the period. Brendan Clark came through for the Hawks, scoring his 11th of the season on the power play with a big pileup in front of the net to make it 6-1. Shortly after Holt Olpihant ripped one through also, tallying his eighth goal of the season. Will Margel sealed the deal for the Tomahawks to make it 8-1 with 5:49 to go in the game.
The two teams are back again in Johnstown at 1ST SUMMIT ARENA tomorrow night for game two of the weekend series and the last game of the homestand. Get your tickets now online at Ticketmaster or at the Tomahawks office.