ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Christian Gorscak and Oliver Benwell earned two-goal games as the Tomahawks defeated the Northeast Generals 7-3 and jumped their winning streak to 17 consecutive games.
After a penalty to Northeast forward Brady Gaudette, the Tomahawks worked their magic on the power play.
Just seven seconds into the man advantage, Sam Solensky fired a shot from the left faceoff circle past the outstretched glove of Marko Sturma to catapult the Tomahawks in front 1-0.
Tomahawks goalie Cooper Lukenda held the fort as the Generals surged late in the first period but the frame ended with the Tomahawks maintaining a 1-0 lead.
In the second period, the Tomahawks and Generals traded scoring chances as well as power play opportunities but both Lukenda and Sturm turned away each chance.
However, the Tomahawks would increase their lead to 2-0 before the second period expired at the 12:33 point when Bennett Stockdale tallied a power play goal. Mitchell Hale and Carson Brière assisted on Stockdale’s sixth of the season.
The Generals cut the Tomahawks lead to 2-1 early in the third period when Kyle Gierman roofed a shot past Lukenda.
From there, Johnstown put the game out of reach.
Eighteen seconds after the Generals goal, Christian Gorscak squeaked a shot past the right arm of Sturm to give Johnstown a 3-1 lead. Andy Nedeljkovic and Hunter Toale picked up the helpers.
Then, four minutes later, Oliver Benwell found the back of the net for his 11th of the season. Stockdale and Austin Friesen assisted on the goal.
Gorscak chipped in his second goal of the afternoon at the 8:09 mark of the period with an assist credited to Nedeljkovic.
At 12:43, Benwell outmuscled a Generals defenseman and tapped home his 12th of the season and second goal of the game for a 6-1 lead for Johnstown. Stockdale and Cam Hebert assisted on the goal.
Northeast responded minutes later with a marker from France native Louis Boudon.
The Tomahawks increased their lead to 7-2 after Cam Hebert’s 12th goal of the season. The goal came unassisted.
Seventeen seconds later, the Generals capitalized on a breakaway as Connor Marshall slipped a puck five-hole on Lukenda for a 7-3 Tomahawks lead.
Johnstown continues its early December road trip when they skate into Jamestown, NY to face the Rebels on Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:05 p.m.
The Hawks return to 1st Summit Arena on Friday, Dec. 14 for a 7:30 p.m. tilt with New Jersey. Fans will receive a souvenir beanie cap while supplies last. Saturday night is the traditional Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear or other stuffed animals to the game to toss onto the ice after the Tomahawks score their first goal. Faceoff on Saturday, Dec. 15 is set for 7 p.m.
