Wilkins’ Game-Winner Sends Hawks to 2-1 Overtime Win over Knights

Jan 18, 2019

JOHNSTOWN – Defenseman Alex Wilkins converted a breakaway in overtime to give the Johnstown Tomahawks a 2-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights Friday evening at 1st Summit Arena.
The win improves the Tomahawks’ point total to 64 points (First in the NAHL) and 32-5-0 on the season.
Scoring Breakdown:
1st Period Recap
  • The Tomahawks entered the contest without three regulars on offense as Sam Solensky, Pavel Kharin and Mitch Hale were all scratched for the game.
  • Neither team could find the back of the net but the period was not absent of chances for Johnstown and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Shots on Goal After the First Period: Johnstown (9) | WB/Scranton (7)
2nd Period Recap
  • The Tomahawks contributed the game’s first goal after Knights forward Adrian Danchenko was whistled for a five-minute high-sticking penalty.
  • Oliver Benwell tallied his 18th goal of the season with assists going to Alex Wilkins and Carson Brière. The Tomahawks went into the lead 1-0.
  • However, the Knights responded late in the second period with a goal from Zak Currie to tie the contest before intermission.
Shots on Goal After the Second Period: Johnstown (17) | WB/Scranton (19)
3rd Period Recap:
  • Neither team could crack the 1-1 tie on the scoreboard so both teams skated into overtime.
Overtime Recap:
  • A turnover in the Knights offensive zone sprung Wilkins on a breakaway were the defenseman tallied his third of the season and the game-winner.
Final Shots on Goal: Johnstown (37) | WB/Scranton (25)
Game Facts:
  • With the win, Johnstown improves their winning streak to eight games.
  • Wilkins’ goal was his first game-winning goal of the season.
Saturday night, former Penguins Darius Kasparaitis and Tyler Kennedy along with numerous Johnstown Chiefs alumni take the ice against the Johnstown Warriors in a charity game benefiting the local youth hockey prior to the Tomahawks taking on the Knights at 5 p.m. Puck drops for the Tomahawks game at 7 p.m.