Hang in there Tomahawks fans, we still have yet to play a game at the 1ST SUMMIT Arena in this playoff series! The storied sports adage reads that a five-or-seven-game playoff series isn’t truly over until you lose a game in your own home territory. In hockey—arguably the ultimate momentum sport—that saying rings especially true. Although the Tomahawks find themselves in a daunting 0-2 series deficit, their narrow one-goal loss in Game 2 leaves a sliver of hope for a potential comeback. Just last month, the Tomahawks found themselves in a similar spot after dropping two straight games to the New Jersey Titans—only to bounce back the following week with back-to-back wins against, ironically enough, the Rochester Jr. Americans.
You may be asking yourself, how many times has a team actually come back from a 0-2 series deficit in NAHL History? After siphoning through some of the NAHL history books, I’ve come across just two instances of this scenario, but it’s not zero…
The first being the Amarillo Bulls back in 2019. The Bulls found themselves in the South Division Finals which is the East Division equivalent for the next round from where the Tomahawks & Jr. Americans sit right now. In a series where the stakes were even higher, finding themselves just one more round away from the Robertson Cup Finals, Amarillo clawed all the way back to reverse sweep the Shreveport Mudbugs. They went on to win the next-three games, including a dramatic overtime victory in Game 3, which turned the tides of the entire series and propelled them into the Robertson Cup. The only other instance of this situation in the NAHL database is from just three years ago in a similar vein, where the New Mexico Ice Wolves also faced an 0-2 deficit in the South Division Finals. After coming all the way back to tie the series at 2-2, all that remained was Game 5, and it was a typical low-scoring playoff game with New Mexico completing the improbable comeback winning the clincher by a score of 1-0.
Through two games of the series, the Tomahawks definitely have to improve their offensive output and protect the house first, but they seem to be heading in the right direction. Rochester has scored seven goals while the Tomahawks have just three.
As big of a story goaltending was heading into the series, it seems like it’s taken on even more weight of the narrative after two games. Rochester lost their starting goaltender, Danick Leroux to injury halfway through the 1st period of Game 1, meaning Rochester was forced to throw NAHL rookie G Jensen Carlstrom into the fire to take over the reins for his first junior hockey action. One would think the Tomahawks would have taken this opportunity and ran with it, handling business by welcoming him to the league by scoring at will, but the Jr. Americans used the energy surrounding Carlstrom’s debut to completely stymie the Hawks and cruise to the 5-2 victory.
The scoring was down in Game 2 with a 2-1 Rochester victory, but the story of the remainder of the series will continue to be goaltending. Tomahawks goaltender Nick Avakyan will likely have to steal one or more of the next three games to give the Hawks a chance. On the Rochester side, Carlstrom now essentially has two full games of playoff experience under his belt and will now head to one of the league’s best environments in Johnstown which will certainly be a test for the rookie.
So as Friday night approaches, it’s win-or-go-home—let’s make sure that Rochester knows they’re not just playing the Tomahawks…they’re playing Johnstown. So, wear your brightest white and wave your rally towels because when history looks back on this series, let it say that the comeback started in Johnstown—and started with YOU, the fans.
Puck-drop on Friday night’s Game 3 action will be at 7:30 PM vs the Rochester Jr. Americans. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a free WHITE-OUT rally towel! Stay tuned for updates via our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X! Tickets are available now at www.johnstowntomahawks.com, or you can stop by the Tomahawks main office, located inside 1ST SUMMIT Arena. Open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Whether you’re a longtime fan or joining us for your first game, it’s the perfect opportunity to cheer on the Hawks and be part of the electric game night atmosphere.
BY: DREW P. PFEIL | drew@johnstowntomahawks.com