TOMAHAWKS (13-5-2) at KNIGHTS (9-12-0)
Location: Revolution Ice Centre | Pittston, Pennsylvania
Faceoff: Tonight (7:30 p.m.), Saturday (7:30 p.m.)
THE JOHNSTOWN TOMAHAWKS
The Tomahawks are coming of a sweep at the hands of the first-place Aston Rebels last weekend.
Johnstown played host to the Rebels in its home-opening weekend with the Tomahawks dropping Friday’s contest 3-2.
Josh Biasillo and Mitchell Hale tallied goals for the Tomahawks in front of more than 3,300 fans at the War Memorial.
Saturday, the Tomahawks took a 2-1 lead into the third period only to see it evaporate when Rebels forward Evgeny Yakovlev tied the game.
The Rebels went onto win the game in overtime after Brennan Kapcheck sealed the deal with his goal two minutes into the overtime period.
Johnstown looks to get back to its winning ways this weekend with a series with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights. The Tomahawks swept the last meeting back in September with a 4-3 win Friday, Sept. 9 and a 6-4 win on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Donovan Ott leads the way against the Knights with two goals and three assists against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Filips Buncis has four assists against the Knights.
NOTES:
Dalton Hunter is fourth in the league in scoring with 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists).
Bucnis is tied for the league lead in assists with 16 helpers to go with his five goals on the season.
THE WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON KNIGHTS
It’s been a rough go of it for the Knights as they have stumbled out of the starting block with a 9-12-0 record. However, they have sent two players to the United States Hockey League during that span in Joseph Campolieto and Matt Kidney.
The Knights were off last week after the Aston Rebels completed a weekend sweep November 4-5. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s offense failed to generate goals as they were swept in back-to-back games (2-0 on Friday, Nov. 4 and 7-0 on Saturday, Nov. 5)
With Kidney playing in the USHL, the blue-and-white offense is paced by forward Mike Gelatt, who has tallied 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 20 games. Curtis Carlson also has earned 14 points on the season.
Khristian Acosta has been a consistent offensive producer for the Knights with six goals and seven assists in 11 games since being acquired from the USPHL.
Starting netminder Grant Valentine in his 15 starts has a record of 6-9-0 with a 3.43 goals against average.
NOTES:
Joey Kubachka returns to Northeastern Pennsylvania from the USHL. The 6-3 210 lbs forward spent 14 games with the Knights last season before playing his next 32 with the Des Moines Buccaneers
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
How To Watch: HockeyTV
Fans can follow the Tomahawks social media accounts for updated action throughout the weekend.