JOHNSTOWN – The Johnstown Tomahawks ended the 2015-16 season with a 6-3 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights in front of 3,740 fans at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena Saturday night.
Luke Picek netted the game’s first goal at 3:17 of the first period when he finished a Dalton Hunter two-on-one pass to put the Tomahawks ahead 1-0.
The Tomahawks gained a two-goal advantage thanks to Alex Alger’s goal at 12:46 on the man advantage. The goal was assisted by Kelly O’Brien.
Johnstown kept the momentum and tallied the game’s third goal late in the first stanza. Andrew Romano backhanded a shot past Knights goaltender Grant Valentine. Brendan Jaquay registered the lone helper on Romano’s sixteenth goal of the game.
In the second period, Luke Lynch scored goal No. 29 at 4:56. Casey Linkenheld assisted on the goal.
Alger continued his hot streak minutes later when he deflected a Filips Buncis point shot past Valentine. The goal came on the power play, the team’s second of the game.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton got on the scoreboard first when Paul Maust found space behind Tomahawks goalie Andrew Lindgren at 13:15 of the second period.
Johnstown answered back early in the third with a Ryan Burr empty net shorthanded goal assisted by Buncis.
With Johnstown in the penalty box, the Knights netted two consecutive power play goals from Dorian Dawson and Austin Redders. However, the Tomahawks held the fort and held onto the 6-3 victory.
Lindgren halted 21 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton shots on goal while Valentine suffered the loss.
The Tomahawks will now wait for the regular season to end for all teams in the North American Hockey League before they begin the post season. The complete first round schedule will be released at a later date. For more information, go to JohnstownTomahawks.com.