The Johnstown Tomahawks fall to the Philadelphia Rebels 4-3 in overtime Saturday night in the home opener at 1ST SUMMIT ARENA in Johnstown.
The Tomahawks got the start they wanted, getting on the board first with a goal from Johnny Ulicny with just 2:21 to go in the opening frame. Philadelphia responded almost immediately with a goal of their own from Trever Burns just 15 seconds later. It looked as though the period would end tied at one, but defenseman Will Bowman came in with 8.8 seconds to go and go one behind netminder Jakub Krebecek to give the Tomahawks a 2-1 lead after the first period.
The Tomahawks came out in the second period with an early goal from Tyler DesRochers in his first game back in a Tomahawks uniform to extend the lead to two for Johnstown. Klaus Jogi made it a one goal game again roughly five minutes later. Both teams saw great opportunities throughout the remainder of the period, but the score remained 3-2 to start the third period in Saturday night’s contest.
Both teams came out flying to start the third and it was Kris Samitis who scored the first goal of the period, which tied the game up for the Rebels with 8:19 remaining in regulation. The Tomahawks couldn’t find the go-ahead goal in the third and the game advanced to overtime.
1:43 into the overtime period, Greg Spitznagel went up high on goaltender Matt O’Donnell’s glove to solidify the 4-3 overtime win for the Rebels.
The Tomahawks get the upcoming week off and will be back for two home games at 1ST SUMMIT ARENA Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15 as the Philadelphia Rebels make their way back to town for a two-game series, which will feature our annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center on October 15. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or through the 1ST SUMMIT ARENA Box Office.