JOHNSTOWN – After going down two goals heading into the third period, the Johnstown Tomahawks overcame the two-goal deficit and defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 4-3 at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
Johnstown jumped out to a 1-0 lead with Kelly O’Brien slid a puck past the outstretched glove of Knights goalie Grant Valentine. For O’Brien the goal was his eighth of the season.
The Knights tied things up early in the second period when Aiden Beck’s wrist shot found its way past new Tomahawks goalie Ryan Glander.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would connect again, this time on the power play. Paul Maust scored his sixth goal of the season to give the Knights the lead 2-1.
Blake Busch added to the Wilkes-Barre lead midway through the third period three when he scored on the power play.
Johnstown would get one back when Adam Pilewicz’s shot trickled by Valentine in the later stages of the third period. The goal, initially waved off, was Pilewicz’s fourth of the campaign.
The game was tied at three goals seconds later when Luke Lynch scored his third goal of the series. His tenth goal of the season put him in the Tomahawks lead for goals.
With zero goals before regulation ended, both teams skated into overtime.
Overtime was scorless soth the Tomahawks and the Knights moved to the shootout where Lynch andAlex Alger found the back of the net propelling Johnstown to the 4-3 shootout victory.
Glander captured his first NAHL victory, stopping 32 of 35 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton shots. Valentine picks up the loss, stopping 29 Tomahawks shots.
Johnstown is home next week from Nov. 20-22 to face the division-leading New Jersey Titans for Men’s Health Awareness Weekend presented by Conemaugh Health Systems. For tickets, go to johnstowntomahawks.com or call 814-536-4625.