WEEKEND PREVIEW: Aviators welcome in 6th place Tomahawks as they try to climb back into the playoff fight
After a disappointing weekend in New Hampshire, the Elmira Aviators (12-17-5-1) return home this weekend to battle the Johnstown Tomahawks (16-13-4-2). The Tomahawks currently hold the final playoff spot in the East Division and are eight points ahead of the Aviators.
Elmira has an excellent opportunity to bounce back from its road woes by taking points against the primary team it’s chasing in the playoff race.
BOUNCING BACK
Last weekend, the Aviators entered Delta Dental Arena with the intention of taking care of business against the last-place New Hampshire Mountain Kings (11-18-2-3).
Instead, Elmira was blanked 5-0 on Friday night in an ugly, penalty-filled affair. The Aviators picked up 78 penalty minutes on Friday, many coming in the third period as the game spiraled away.
On Saturday, the Aviators showed up prepared to battle back. Elmira took leads of 1-0, 2-1 and eventually 3-2 heading into the third period. However, once again, the final frame unravelled Elmira.
The purple and black allowed three unanswered goals to begin the third period, allowing New Hampshire to take its first lead. The Aviators retaliate with a couple of power play goals to get the game level again, but a late Mountain Kings man-advantage put New Hampshire on top for good, securing their series sweep.
Ultimately, the Aviators left New Hampshire extremely disappointed to come away empty-handed, but the season is far from over.
Elmira trails the Johnstown Tomahawks and the final playoff spot by just four points. The Aviators have four games remaining against Johnstown this season, including two this weekend.
Focusing on what works for the Aviators should help them bounce back at home this weekend.
First, Elmira’s power play looked sharp last Saturday, going 3/6 with both units contributing goals. Scoring on the man-advantage will be a huge key for this weekend’s series and the rest of the season.
Second, is staying disciplined. The Aviators must walk the line between playing aggressively and staying disciplined. Penalties cost Elmira in both games at New Hampshire. In Game 1, they prevented the Aviators from staging a comeback, and in Game 2, they allowed the Mountain Kings to score a winning goal inside the final five minutes.
The Aviators will need to score power-play goals and limit time in the sin bin to find success against the Tomahawks.
THE TOMAHAWKS
Johnstown enters this weekend’s series with 38 points, good for 6th in the East Division. The Tomahawks swept the Aviators in Johnstown, Nov. 14/15 winning both games in overtime.
Since that point, the Tomahawks are just 5-6-1-2. Their struggles have allowed the Aviators and other East Division teams to remain within striking distance of the playoffs.
Throughout this season, the Tomahawks have had many peaks and valleys in their scoring. Johnstown has scored six or more goals four times this campaign, winning all of those games.
More regularly, the Tomahawks have scored four or more goals 13 times, going 12-0-1-0. But on the other hand, Johnstown has scored two goals or fewer 16 times, going 3-10-2-1 in those contests.
All this to say, the Tomahawks are streaky. When their attack is on, they win; when their scoring is lacking, they lose.
This problem could be attributed to Johnstown’s lack of balanced scoring. The Tomahawks have two players with 38-plus points, Nick Jarmain (39) and Emerson Marshall (38). No other player on Johnstown has more than 22, and only six players have hit double-digit points.
The Tomahawks are by no means a bad team. They rank in the top half of the division in power play and penalty killing percentage. But if the Aviators can limit Johnstown’s top dogs, they’ll have a strong chance at a successful home weekend.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Johnstown: Nick Jarmain (‘05 F)
Jarmain is one of the two drivers of offense for the Tomahawks with 22 goals and 39 points on the season. He is tied for 5th in the entire NAHL in goals and ranks 2nd in the East, only trailing Rochester star Ryan Shaw.
The Moorestown, NJ native has faced Elmira eight times in his NAHL career, picking up one goal and five points over those games. His lone goal came in the most recent meeting when he scored an overtime winner against Elmira.
Last weekend, Jarmain rattled off three goals and an assist in the series split with Danbury. The Aviators will need to limit Jarmain’s impact if they hope to pick up a pair of victories this weekend.
Elmira: Andrew Horn (‘07 D)
Horn, like many of the Aviators, really stepped up his game last Saturday. The Princeton commit collected three points: an even-strength goal and two power-play assists.
The Aviator defenseman has found success against the Tomahawks this season, too. He scored the game-tying goal as Elmira erased a 3-0 deficit during the most recent meeting in Johnstown.
If Horn can continue to be a weapon on the power play as both a puck-moving defenseman and a precision shooter, he could be the reason Elmira gets back in the win column.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Fans who cannot make it to the LECOM Event Center this weekend can stream the Aviators on NATV and listen on WINGZ93. Game 1 in Elmira is Friday at 7 p.m., and Game 2 is Saturday, also at 7 p.m.
Friday is Gough First Responders Night, and all first responders get into the game free. Saturday is Centralus Kids Night, and all children 12 and under get in free.
Fans can also keep tabs on the action by following the Aviators on social media @Elmiraaviatorsnahl.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].