JOHNSTOWN – The Johnstown Tomahawks (5-1-2-0) were defeated by a final score of 2-1 in overtime at the hands of the New Jersey Titans (4-1-1-2) on Friday night for the home opener of the 25-26 season. Charlie Zetterkvist scored the lone Tomahawks goal while goaltender Zack Ferris was strong making 23 saves on 25 shots.
The stage was set for yet another Tomahawks home opening weekend as the Tomahawks were playing host for the first time this season to the visiting New Jersey Titans. The 1st period played out in a pretty tame style, with a ton of neutral zone play and sloppy passing from both sides. The Tomahawks also ran into some trouble controlling their discipline as they took three straight penalties within a seven-minute span. Luckily, the penalty kill was up to the task and killed all three off to keep it scoreless. The Hawks were sent to their first power play chance with just a minute left to go in the 1st. Unable to score in the first half of the man-advantage, the two teams went to the break still at a 0-0 deadlock. Shots after the 1st were in favor of New Jersey by a total of 8-6.
2nd- More of the same continued as we rolled into the 2nd period as the Tomahawks couldn’t grab the first goal of the game with their minute of carry-over power play time. One of the only stoppages through the first 10-minutes was New Jersey’s second penalty of the night for a high-stick. However, the lack of awareness and discipline from the Hawks led to a coincidental penalty situation after retaliation. The period filled with penalties continued on as two more sets of coincidental calls spanned over the next six-minutes and it seemed like after every whistle there was a scrum along the glass or in front of Tomahawks goaltender Zack Ferris. With nearly half the period played with only eight total skaters on the ice, we still couldn’t find the first goal of the contest. New Jersey was nabbed for yet another high-sticking penalty with under a minute to go and this one was a four-minute double minor because it drew blood. Just like the 1st, the Tomahawks didn’t score in the minute that was left in the period and took some carry-over power play time into the 3rd. Shots on goal after the 2nd period were still in favor of New Jersey at 14-12.
3rd- Starting with nearly three minutes remaining on a power play in a 0-0 game with fresh ice, usually will tend to bode well and help you produce at least one goal. However, the Tomahawks sent the man power back to even at 4-on-4 after taking a hooking penalty. Fortunately this time the extra ice seemed to work in the Tomahawks favor as Charlie Zetterkvist finally broke the ice and sniped one on the glove side of the New Jersey goaltender and it was 1-0 Hawks. Andrew Cowgill and Chayse Laurie were credited with the assists on the goal. New Jersey didn’t let the goal get them rattled and stayed in the game generating some great chances of their own but Ferris was backstopping the Hawks to preserve the lead. However, the pressure eventually rewarded the Titans with a lucky bounce off of a Tomahawks skate which tied the game at 1-1. After the Titans goal, it seemed like this one was destined for OT with the way the first 50 minutes played out, and to OT we went.
Usually the 3-on-3 OT period is high-flying and frenetically paced, but there was just something about this game that lacked those qualities. With about 3:33 to play in the extra frame, the Tomahawks dumped the puck into the New Jersey zone allowing them to take over possession and caught the Tomahawks on a change which led to a rush chance for the Titans and they made no mistake as they muscled one past Ferris and silenced the home Johnstown crowd to steal the 2-1 victory.
Your Johnstown Tomahawks will get their chance at redemption tomorrow night at 7:00PM as they take on the Titans once again to wrap up the first homestand of the season. Get your tickets RIGHT NOW HERE https://www.ticketmaster.com/johnstown-tomahawks-tickets/artist/1760594
BY: DREW P. PFEIL