Tomahawks edge Generals in rubber match on Sunday, 4-3

October 28, 2019

Northeast 3 @ Johnstown 4 - In the rubber match and final game of a three game series, the Johnstown Tomahawks defeated the Northeast Generals, 4-3 on Sunday, taking 4 of a possible 6 points over the weekend.

 

Late in the first period, the Generals were rewarded for their strong play courtesy of a power-play goal.  Defenseman Jared Lambright released a shot from the point that sailed over the left shoulder of Tomahawks goalie David Tomeo and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

 

The Tomahawks returned to the ice and stormed back in the 2nd period. Over the course of the middle 20-minute frame, the Tomahawks dominated possession and recorded a total of 22 shots compared to just six from the visiting Generals. While the Tomahawks were dominating play, they were still unable to create anything in the way of a goal due to continued strong play from Joey Stanizzi in net.  The Generals netminder made save after save to keep his side in front until the dam finally broke late in the second period. What looked like a harmless shot on net turned into the tying goal thanks to an opportunistic play from forward Andrew Murphy. Sean Bauchens pushed the puck towards Stanizzi in goal, who went to clear the puck away from danger but was beat to the punch by the stick of Murphy to knock the puck into a gaping net to even the score at 1-1. A little over two minutes after Murphy’s tying marker, the Tomahawks took their first lead of the afternoon off a rather fortuitous bounce. On the power play after a Generals’ penalty, defenseman Chris Trouba took a shot from the point that deflected off the face of Max Kouznetsov in front and into the back of the net past Stanizzi for a 2-1 Tomahawks advantage. The Generals made it 2-2 late in the period as Thad Marcola picked up a loose puck in the offensive zone and made a power move to get a clear shot on goal, where he slid the puck between Tomeo’s legs for the goal.

 

In the 3rd period and with With 7:15 left in regulation, the Tomahawks broke the deadlock and took a 3-2 lead. Off a mad scramble in front of Stanizzi, Jesse Lycan was able to jam home a loose puck in the crease and put the Tomahawks back in front, although very briefly. As they did in the second period, the Generals responded within seconds of the Tomahawks goal and it was once again a point shot past a screened Tomeo that brought the game back to even terms at 3-3. Jack Ring was given credit for the goal and everything was back to where it started with less than seven minutes left. Tied late in the third, the game appeared to be heading into overtime but Christian Gorscak had other plans in mind.  Off a scramble in front of the goal, the veteran Gorscak found a bouncing puck and batted it past the outstretched leg of Stanizzi for what turned out to be the game-winning goal with 2:02 left on the clock.

 

Tomeo made 21 saves in the win, while Stanizzi made made 34 saves in the loss.