ASTON, Pa – The Johnstown Tomahawks dropped a close 2-1 contest in overtime to the Aston Rebels Friday Night at the IceWorks Skating Complex.
Both teams skated to a scoreless first period as neither team could generate chances on net.
However, the Rebels would finally crack the Tomahawks and goaltender Vinnie Purpura with just 10 seconds left in the second period when Jensen Zerban received a pass from Evgeny Yakovlev and deposited it to the back of the net.
In the third period, the Tomahawks came out with a renewed spirit and pressed the Rebels throughout the period.
Finally, Johnstown solved Rebels goaltender Mareks Mitens at the 10:33 mark of the third when Josh Norman sent a backhand shot to the net that evaded the outstretched glove of Mitens.
For Norman, the goal was his second of the season and was assisted by Hayden Rowan.
Aston and Johnstown exchanges quality scoring chances to before the end of regulation but neither team was able to score the game-winning goal.
The overtime period saw a flurry of scoring chances as Purpura denied a breakaway chance from Rebels forward Aaron Maguyon.
Johnstown went the other way with the puck as Evan Somoza closed in one-on-one with Mitens, but he was denied a goal.
The puck bounced to Aston defenseman Ryan Solomon, who sprung Maguyon on his second breakaway. This time, he finished his chance and won the game for the Rebels 2-1 in overtime.
Purpura stopped 29 of 31 Rebels shots to move his record to 10-3-0 on the season.
Both teams return to action Saturday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at the IceWorks Skating Complex.