JOHNSTOWN, P.A. – The Elmira Aviators (8-10-2-0) picked up a point in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Johnstown Tomahawks (10-7-3-0) at 1st Summit Arena Friday night.
The Aviators got off to a flying start with a goal just over a minute into the hockey game.
Matthew Maglio turned defense into offense, blocking a Tomahawk pass and then carrying it in transition. Maglio ripped a shot that was saved by Nikita Oleksiienko, but the rebound fell right to the blade of Yianni Koukouves, who hammered it home.
The game turned stingy from that point forward. Chances were hard to come by as the rest of the first period and the entire second period went scoreless.
The Tomahawks’ penalty kill reigned supreme in the middle part of the hockey game. They held the Aviators to 0/4 on the man-advantage, faltering their efforts to extend the 1-0 lead. Johnstown’s penalty kill leads the league at over 93%.
The Tomahawks went on their own power play at the end of the middle period with carryover time heading into the final frame of regulation. Johnstown did not officially score on the power play, but in his Tomahawk debut, Nick Metelkin went coast to coast to tie the game just as the advantage expired.
Tensions tightened throughout the rest of regulation with goaltenders reigning supreme. Elmira’s Aiden McKenna had another tremendous night between the pipes with 32 saves on 34 shots.
Unfortunately for the Aviators, the Tomahawks got the upper hand in overtime, with Metelkin once again netting a goal. Metelkin finished last season and began this season in the BCHL, but returned to the NAHL Friday night in a tremendous debut for Johnstown.
The Aviators will attempt to bounce back for a series split and make it points in five straight with a victory over the Tomahawks Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The game can 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].