Aviators fall in overtime to Tomahakws
ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira Aviators could not find a winner as the Johnstown Tomahawks defeated them 3-2 in overtime Saturday night.
The Aviators were bidding for a series split on the weekend, following a 4-1 loss to the Tomahawks on Friday. That game featured a tightly contested two periods with the score at 1-1 heading into the final frame.
However, Johnstown ran rampant in the third period, scoring three goals en route to a 4-1 victory.
Saturday’s showdown had a similar setup. The two teams jostled in two tightly contested periods. The Tomahawks took the lead twice through Adam Ondris in the first period and then Cullen Emery in the second.
But the Aviators had an answer on both occasions. Kai Elkie set up Clarence Beltz with a brilliant feed to tie things up at one in the first period. Then Matt Maglio off the heels of his NAHL goal of the week last Saturday, scored on a wicked wrister from a near-impossible angle to deadlock the score at two.
That set the stage for a third period in which the Aviators needed to change the script from Friday’s game. This time around, Elmira locked all windows and doors, holding Johnstown to just one shot in the final period of regulation.
Unfortunately for the Aviators, they could not steer the puck past Johnstown goaltender Zack Ferris in the third and the game went into overtime.
It took just one chance for the Tomahawks to end it as Emery darted up the left wing and lulled the Aviator defense to sleep before cutting to the front of the net and scoring the game-winner.
Johnstown remains red-hot, with five wins in a row and a 12-9-2-0 record. Meanwhile, the Aviators’ record falls to 8-11-3-1.
Next week Elmira will welcome their in-state rival, the Rochester Jr. Americans, to the LECOM Event Center for the first time. The Aviators split their first series with the Jr. Americans back in Rochester, losing 6-3 before thundering back for a 6-0 win in the second game.
Game 1 of the series with Rochester is Friday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. and Game 2 is Saturday, Nov. 30, also at 7 p.m. You can catch the games live on NATV or listen on Big Foot Country Legends.
NATV is free for everyone starting Nov. 27 and running through Nov. 30.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him email [email protected].