Michigan Scores Late, Defeats Tomahawks, 4-2
By Ed Sheets
AJ Marcinek scored two goals, including the game winner with 1:05 remaining in the third period and Ryan Dougherty added two assists as the Michigan Warriors defeated the Johnstown Tomahawks, 4-2, Friday night in front of 4,014 at the Perani Arena and Event Centre in Flint, MI.
Marcinek’s two goals increased his total to three against the Tomahawks in four meetings this season.
Neither team was able to take advantage of the power play with Johnstown going 0-for-5 and Michigan going 0-for-7.
The Warriors Dillon Kelley stopped 21 of 23 shots, while picking up his fourth win of the season. Chris Truehl stopped 31 of 34 shots in the loss, snapping a two-game winning streak.
After a scoreless first period, Brandon Reinholz got the Tomahawks on the board with his 14th goal of the season just 2:16 into the second period. Reinholz has been effective against the Warriors, scoring four goals and adding an assist in four meetings this season. He also has 10 goals on the road.
Michigan tied the game on a Shawn Badali goal at 6:58. Ryan Dougherty added his first assist of the season on the goal. He would add another assist on the AJ Marcinek goal later in the game.
Mitch Kontny regained the lead for the Tomahawks at 9:44 of the third period. Jaycob McCombs and JB Baker provided assists on the goal for the second time in the game. Kontny’s goal was his team-leading 15th of the season.
Less than three minutes later, Marcinek tied the game at two, before scoring the game winner late in the period.
Martin Gruse set the final score with an empty-net goal with 30 seconds remaining.
Michigan has now won three straight games while Johnstown has lost two straight.
The Tomahawks continue their weekend series against Michigan with games Saturday night at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. They return to the Cambria County War Memorial Friday, January 11to take on the Port Huron Fighting Falcons at 7 p.m.