JOHNSTOWN, PA — The Johnstown Tomahawks (6-4-3) extended their win streak to four with a third straight home victory after a 7-4 victory over the 2nd place New Jersey Titans (8-4-5) on Friday, October 30th. Jack Sullivan scored twice, including the game-winning fifth goal for his team. Charlie Zetterkvist made his return to town and also found the back of the net, and the Tomahawks also got scoring from Jacob Duval, Jacob Ingstrup, Evan Kensey and Sam Esposito. Luc Beauparlant was victorious between the pipes for Johnstown where he turned aside 28 Titan shots.
The Tomahawks returned from their off-week to a welcoming home ice crowd in Johnstown on Friday night looking to extend their winning streak to four games as they hosted the New Jersey Titans. The opening period featured plenty of back-and-forth action, with both teams finding the back of the net twice in the first twenty minutes. New Jersey struck first at the 9:00 mark, but Jacob Duval responded just 15 seconds later to quickly even things up and ignite the home crowd. Duval’s third goal of the season, which was also his first at home, was assisted by Jack Sullivan and Evan Kensey. The Titans regained the lead a little over a minute later, but Evan Kensey answered again for the Hawks with just over four minutes remaining in the period. Kensey’s fifth goal of the season was assisted by Sam Esposito and Jacob Ingstrup, and the two teams headed into the first intermission tied at 2-2 after quite an entertaining opening frame after the week off in Johnstown. Shots after one period of play were an even 11-11.
The second period continued with both teams trading chances and goals as neither side was able to gain much separation on the scoreboard. New Jersey found the back of the net early in the period to take the lead once again, but the Tomahawks responded a third time to even things up at 3-3. This time it was Sam Esposito who found the back of the net with his 6th of the season after assists from Duval and Maione. The Esposito goal gave the Tomahawks life to begin chasing their first lead, and they did just that as Jacob Ingstrup scored his first goal of the season off a great backhanded rush chance that found its way through the goaltender. Unfortunately, the Titans found a tying goal of their own in the waning moments of the period to send the game to its second break all tied up at 4-4. After 40 minutes, the Tomahawks held the slight edge in shots at 25-22.
The third period belonged to the Tomahawks, who seemed to have found another gear offensively and shut out the Titans over the final twenty minutes. After four goals from each team through two periods, Johnstown took control and put together three unanswered goals to pull away. Jack Sullivan grabbed the lead just five-minutes into the period with his first goal since returning from the Fargo Force (USHL). A few minutes later, Charlie Zetterkvist also found the back of the net in his return with a cheeky finish on a breakaway as he slid the puck through the five hole of the goaltender, to make it 6-4. Sullivan went on to add a full-length of the ice empty-net goal with an assist from goaltender Luc Beauparlant. The Tomahawks held the Titans scoreless in the final frame and closed out the emphatic 7-4 victory on home ice to extend their winning streak to four games. Johnstown finished the night with a 34-32 advantage in shots on goal.
We’re right back in action tomorrow night on Halloween to wrap up the series versus the Titans. Puck drop is set for 7:00PM from 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown!
BY: DREW PFEIL