ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira Aviators (13-17-5-1) bounced back in a major way from last weekend’s defeats, taking down the Johnstown Tomahawks (16-14-4-2) 5-1 at the LECOM Event Center Friday night.
Last weekend, the Aviators hit a low point. The New Hampshire Mountain Kings, the last-place team in the East Division, swept Elmira out of Delta Dental Arena. The Aviators were blanked 5-0 on Friday and had a lead slip away in a 6-5 loss on Saturday.
Elmira made last weekend look like a far-off memory on Friday night. Five goals scored by five different goal scorers in a dominant 5-1 victory.
The Aviators won every facet of the game: even strength, special teams, shots and goaltending all went Elmira’s way.
The game was tight for two periods, but the Aviators never trailed. The purple and black continued to thrive in transition, scoring the game’s first goal off the rush.
Forward Matthew Maglio used an active stick to steal the puck and spring Evan Dantas on a breakaway. The 2005-born forward used a nice forehand-backhand move, elevating the puck to the top shelf for his team-leading 13th goal of the season.
Later in the period, Luke Rubin, skating in his 100th career NAHL game, doubled the Aviator advantage, capitalizing on a Johnstown turnover. Defenseman Jack Laferriere also played his 100th career NAHL game Friday night.
The Tomahawks pulled one back thanks to a Jack Genovese wraparound goal, but that’s all Johnstown had on offense for the evening.
Entering the third with a slim 2-1 advantage, the Aviators kept the pedal to the metal, registering two goals within 45 seconds to start the period.
Dantas returned the favor to Maglio, setting him up for a one-timer to make it 3-1 Elmira. Then, Aviator defenseman Cole Brown flipped a long-distance shot that deflected off a Tomahawk for his first career NAHL goal.
Later, Aviator alternate captain Jack Kohlmann would put the cherry on top of a hard-earned victory by snapping home a power play goal to end Johnstown’s hopes late in the game.
The Aviators are now six points behind the Tomahawks for the final playoff spot in the east and can pull within four points with another regulation win Saturday night.
Saturday’s game will begin at 7 p.m., and entry is free for all children 12 and under. The games can also be streamed on NATV or listened to on WINGZ93.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].