KNIGHTS (23-22-3) at JOHNSTOWN (29-10-3)
Location: Cambria County War Memorial| Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Game Time: Tonight (7:30 p.m.), Saturday (12:00 p.m.)
Doors: One hour prior to faceoff
It was a tale of Two Tomahawks teams last weekend when the Hawks hosted third-place New Jersey at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
Friday night, Johnstown shut the door on the Titans, defeating them 3-0 in Drew Hotte’s fifth shut out performance of the season.
Johnstown cracked Ryan Ferland late in the first period when Stork netted a power play goal for a 1-0 Tomahawks lead. His 15th of the season was assisted by Nick Bruce and Chris Trouba.
Joe Kile increased the Tomahawks lead to 2-0 at the 7:07 mark of the second period when he slipped a puck past the five-hole of Ferland. His eighth of the season was assisted by Brandon Young and Edward Hirka.
Johnstown put the game away late in the third when Stork netted his second goal of the game in the empty net.
Saturday night’s contest was one to forget if you’re the Tomahawks as they dropped an 8-1 contest to the Titans.
New Jersey flew to a 6-0 before Johnstown would finally solve New Jersey netminder Ryan Ferland when Daniil Bokun sent one low blocker side for his fourth of the season. Evan Somoza and Hayden Rowan picked up the helpers.
THE JOHNSTOWN TOMAHAWKS
The Johnstown Tomahawks defeated the Knights in game one 6-5.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton started the goal scoring early in the first period when Matt Kidney finished a pass from Curtis Carlson to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
Carlson increased the Knights advantage to 2-0 with his goal at 3:31 of the first period.
The Tomahawks cut the deficit to 2-1 three minutes later when Hayden Rowan fired home a puck off the juicy rebound given by Knights goaltender Matteo Esposito.
Before the end of the first period, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton regained the two-goal lead when Sam Antonitsch deflected a shot from Joey Kubachka.
In the second period, the Tomahawks got within striking distance when Logan Stork scored.
The Tomahawks tied the game at 3-3 at 3:22 of the second frame when Josh Biasillo fired a puck past Esposito. Riley Doyon and Alex Singley helped on the goal.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton regained the one goal but Johnstown would not lay down as Bruce netted his first of two goals on the night at 18:16 of the middle frame.
The Knights again took control early as Michael Morrissey rifled a puck past Hotte for a 5-4 Knights lead.
The theme of the night continued at 13:47 when the Tomahawks answered once again.
Bruce and Dalton Hunter scored to set the final at 6-5
Player to Watch
Donovan Ott has been generating plenty of chances recently and is tied for the Tomahawks lead in goals with 24 markers on the season.
NEW JERSEY TITANS
he Knights were idle last weekend after dropping a shootout contest to New Jersey at home on Feb. 14.
Tom Kowal’s bunch is 5-4-1 in their last 10 games are looking to overcome the Titans for 3rd place in the division.
Paul Maust, Matt Kidney, Vince Marino and Dorian Dawson have been named to the NAHL’s annual Prospects Tournament.
Player to Watch
Sam Antonitsch has been a thorn in the side of the Tomahawks this season with five goals against Johnstown this season including two in their last meeting at the War Memorial.