Photo Credit: Phil Andraychak
SCRANTON– For the second straight game, the Johnstown Tomahawks and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights needed extra hockey to decide who would get the victory. On Sunday afternoon, Cameron Smith scored 2:29 into the overtime period, giving the Tomahawks a 5-4 victory.
Luke Lynch got Johnstown (6-3-2) on the board first, taking the rebound from a Tommy Horn shot and deflecting it past Knights goaltender Grant Valentine at 5:58 of the first period.
Carson Knop got Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (1-7-2) on the board with an unassisted goal at 15:51 of the first period. The Knights took their first lead of the game early in the second period, as Jack Nickels scored at 3:21. Zed Dietrich and Paul Maust added the assists on the goal.
The Tomahawks tied the game at two, as Kelly O’Brien’s tough-angle shot deflected off a Knights defender and past Valentine at 11:16.
Later in the period, Joey Kubachka regained the lead for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, scoring a power-play goal at 16:54. Paul Maust added the assist on the goal.
Less than a minute later, Steve Quagliata evened the score at three as his shot through traffic found the back of the net. Andrew Romano and Tiernan Seningen provided the assists that led to the goal.
The Knights took a 4-3 lead in the third period, as Steven Kelly scored at 4:10. Chris Rupp and Dorian Dawson each added assists on the goal.
Adam Pilewicz tied the game at four, as his shot from the slot snuck between the post and Valentine at 5:44. O’Brien and Lynch each added assists on the goal.
Smith used some impressive stick moves in front of the net to get the puck past the stick of Valentine, giving the Tomahawks the victory and the extra point.
Gwillim earned the win, stopping 31 of 35 shots. Valentine stopped 38 of 43 in the loss.
The Tomahawks open their 2015-16 home schedule this Friday and Saturday against the New Jersey Titans. Friday night’s game features an appearance by Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, presented by WJAC. Saturday’s game features the fourth annual HawkeyFest presented by Sheetz.
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