The Johnstown Tomahawks fell 7-4 to the New Jersey Titans in Middletown in game one of two on the weekend.
New Jersey opened the scoring as Anthony Calafiore scored on the power play 2:00 into the game for his 12th goal of the season. Joe Harney netted his second of the season with 4:58 remaining in the opening frame to give the Titans a 2-0 lead after the first 20.
Beginning the second period in similar fashion to the first, Levente Keresztes netted his 14th goal of the 2022-23 campaign 1:45 in, giving his club a 3-0 lead over Johnstown. At the 17:27 mark, Michael Young made it a four-goal lead for the Titans, but Will Moore responded 61 seconds later, getting Johnstown on the board before time expired in the second period. New Jersey held a 4-1 lead going into the final period.
Young netted his second of the game on the power play, followed by a goal from Eric Charpentier to give New Jersey a 6-1 lead with 11:18 to go in regulation. Johnstown responded with goals from Ethan Perrault and Johnny Ulicny coming just 1:17 apart, making it a three-goal game in favor of the Titans. Anthony Galante added on then with a power play goal, bringing the Tomahawks within two with just 4:39 remaining in regulation. As netminder Alec Rajalin-Scharp went off for the extra attacker, Anthony Calafiore was able to take advantage of the empty net for his team and secure the win for the Titans by a final score of 7-4.
The Tomahawks and Titans face off again tomorrow at Middletown Ice Arena at 7:30 PM for the final game of the weekend series to kick off 2023. The game will be broadcasted live on HockeyTV.