MIDDLETOWN, N.J. – The Elmira Aviators (1-0-0-0) held off a late push from the New Jersey Titans (0-1-0-0) 4-3 for an opening game win at the Middletown Sports Complex Saturday night.
Elmira used special teams and clutch goaltending to secure its opening night victory.
The Aviators got off to a flying start, building a 4-0 lead across the first two periods. They scored a pair in each of the first two frames.
Newcomer Deklyn Campbell started it off with a score in his first-ever NAHL game. Nico-Patrik Pohjola worked excellently along the end boards to win the puck against a Titan defender before sliding the puck to an open Campbell, who finished the chance.
The purple and black got their second goal on a sweet finish from New Jersey native Matthew Maglio. Elmira’s number eight sniped the puck from the top of the near circle over the left shoulder of Titan goaltender Charlie Mistretta.
In the second period, the Aviators got some puck luck with the Titans scoring an own goal. Luke Sakala was credited with the tally for Elmira.
The Aviators’ second goal in the middle period was anything but lucky.
Defenseman Harald Humble held off two Titan penalty killers to begin the rush for the Aviators. He sprung Maglio, who barreled down the right wing, dropping the puck to Jack Kohlmann.
Kohlmann delivered a perfect cross-ice feed on the tape of Pohjola, who buried the frozen biscuit into a gaping Titans cage. Elmira ended up going two-for-three on its power play chances Saturday night.
Despite sitting comfortably up 4-0, the Titans showed no quit, scoring in the final minute of the second period and building momentum heading into the third.
New Jersey would tally two more times in the final period, but the Aviators’ penalty kill and goaltending shone in the final minutes.
New Jersey had six power plays, including three in the third period, and extended time with the goalie pulled in a six-on-five situation. Elmira killed five of the six penalties and held strong while New Jersey had the extra attacker.
Some say the best penalty killer needs to be a team’s goaltender. And in his NAHL debut, Vladimir Pechenin was not only his team’s best penalty killer, but best player on the ice Saturday night.
Pechenin made 45 saves on 48 Titans’ shots, including some show stoppers with the flash of his leather. The Russian native had a decisive 17 saves in the third period.
Ultimately, some of the weaknesses of the 2024 Aviators played as strengths on the opening night of the 2025 team.
The power play and penalty kill ranked toward the bottom of the East Division last season, but Saturday night, both units clicked at a high level.
Elmira will try for the opening series sweep Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. The game will be available on NATV and Wingz 93.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].