Tomahawks Capitalize on Power Play, Defeating Kalamazoo, 4-3

Nov 8, 2012

Tomahawks Capitalize on Power Play, Defeating Kalamazoo, 4-3

            Johnstown found success on the power play, converting three of seven opportunities, as they defeated the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings, 4-3, in front of 3,038 on Friday night at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

            The Tomahawks penalty kill was effective, stopping all four of Kalamazoo’s chances.

            The Tomahawks received goals from four different players, starting with Jaycob McCombs’ power-play goal at 8:31 of the first period when Nick Kovalchik went to the box for cross checking.

            Johnstown (8-6-6) got its second goal of the period when Connor Wright (3-2-5) put a shot past Kalamazoo goaltender Marcus Due-Boje at 17:38. The goal marked Wrights’ third in two games. Ian Spencer tallied the lone assist, his second of the game after also assisting on McCombs’ goal.

            Brandon Reinholz’s shot past the glove of Due-Boje gave the Tomahawks a 3-1 lead less than five minutes into the second period.  Jesse Kessler’s assist marked his ninth of the season (4-9-13).

            The Jr. K-Wings got on the board first at 4:46 of the first period when Robbie Payne scored through traffic on starting goaltender Colin Brennan.

            Kalamazoo (11-7-1) brought the score within one when Mikhail Bushinski scored to make it 3-2 at 10:01 of the second period.

            Casey Nelson would finish off the scoring for the Tomahawks 4:34 later when his shot from above the left circle found the back of the net. Mitch Kontny had the assist and continued his point streak and is now 3-4-7 in the last five games.

            The Jr. K-Wings were unable to best the Tomahawks four goals, scoring their third and final goal of the game when Brett Beauvais scored at 19:43 of the second period.

            Goaltender Chris Truehl replaced Brennan for the start of the third, shutting down all six of Kalamazoo’s shots. Both teams would be held off the board in the third period.

            The Tomahawks outshot Kalamazoo, 35-21, and snapped their three-game losing streak at the War Memorial Arena. Their home record now stands at 6-3-2, and they are 2-1-0 against the Jr. K-Wings.

            Both teams face off again tomorrow evening at 7 p.m.