The Johnstown Tomahawks defeated the Maryland Black Bears in exciting fashion Saturday night with a 4-3 overtime victory from 1ST SUMMIT ARENA in Johnstown.
Maryland’s Birch Gorman opened the scoring 8:39 into the game with his first goal of the season. The Tomahawks responded with a goal from Zach Aben later in the period to tie the game at 1. As time expired in the first, a few extra curricular activities occurred, resulting in coincidental minors for roughing and four-on-four action to start the second period tied at 1.
Aben netted his second goal of the game, regaining the lead for the Tomahawks 6:20 into the middle frame. Maryland fought back and tied the game at 2 with 2:51 remaining in the second period, sending the game into the third tied once again.
Time went along in the third period with no scoring until Johnstown’s Will Lawrence lit the lamp to give the Tomahawks a 3-2 lead with 4:15 remaining in regulation. Maryland again responded as Branden Piku scored his sixth goal of the season with 20.1 seconds left to force overtime.
There were only 27 seconds remaining in overtime when David Matousek netted the game-winning goal for the Tomahawks, handing the Maryland Black Bears only their fourth loss of the season.
The Johnstown Tomahawks are back in action at 1ST SUMMIT ARENA on Thursday, December 8 against the Maine Nordiques with puck drop scheduled for 7 PM. Special guest Jerome Bettis will be in the house to drop the ceremonial first puck. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.