WEEKEND PREVIEW: Aviators hit the road for final regular-season series with Tomahawks
After picking up three points in a home clash with the New Hampshire Mountain Kings, the Elmira Aviators (15-19-5-3) are hitting the road to western Pennsylvania for a series with the Johnstown Tomahawks (18-18-4-3).
Elmira still sits in ninth place in the East Division, six points back of the final playoff spot. The Aviators have 17 games to make up the ground, with 11 of those matchups away from home.
The Aviators are going to have to embrace the mantra of road warriors as they look to make up ground against a Tomahawk team in the thick of the playoff hunt.
NEW ADDITIONS GAINING THEIR WINGS
Last weekend, the Aviators played a wild series against a hot New Hampshire Mountain Kings side. Both matchups went to shootouts, with Elmira victorious in Game 1, 3-2, and then New Hampshire on top 7-6 in an offensive showcase.
Elmira’s Matthew Maglio scored the shootout-winning goal on Friday night, then recorded his first career hat trick on Saturday. Maglio scooped up the headlines as he was named NAHL East Division First Star of the Week.
However, the Aviators’ newcomers really shone as a collective in the series against New Hampshire.
Last week was the NAHL movement deadline, marking the last time clubs could make changes and pick-ups for their roster. Elmira had to say goodbye to some of its pieces.
Jack Kohlmann and Zach Buffone went off to the BCHL, and Yianni Koukouves was traded to the Rochester Jr. Americans.
This created an opportunity for the Aviators to bring in a handful of new players, injecting fresh life into the team.
Forward Corson Maguire, acquired from Rochester in the trade for Koukouves, collected a pair of assists in his debut series with Elmira. Maguire set up Max Campbell with a smooth feed on the rush to open the scoring on Friday, then he contributed on the man-advanage adding a power play assist in Saturday’s game.
Defenseman Kevin Delaney has burst onto the scene as a top-four defenseman for Elmira. Delaney was called up from the NCDC and has found a home on a pair with Aviator captain Brenden Bedorf.
The Denver native announced his arrival to the Aviator faithful Saturday with a three-point night, including his first career NAHL goal. In just five games with Elmira, Delaney has established himself as a top-four defenseman with the ability to quarterback a power play unit.
Tyler Tsoukalas made his Aviator debut on Friday after being acquired from Amarillo. Tsoukalas was easily made apparent with his size at 6-foot-3 and physicality.
Elmira has also brought on another NCDC player looking to transition up to the NAHL. Ben Taylor has 21 goals and 33 points in 41 NCDC games this season. He could make his debut in Johnstown this weekend.
If the Aviators’ new blood can continue to thrive and mesh with the already established leading scorers like Maglio and Evan Dantas, then they’ll have the depth to make a significant playoff push.
THE TOMAHAWKS
Johnstown is in a bit of a spiral, losing five of its last six games and dropping out of the final playoff spot in the East Division.
The Tomahawks have been the victims of stiff competition, facing playoff teams in each of their last three series. They will certainly see a home series against Elmira as an avenue to get back on track.
The Tomahawks are 7-2-0-1 lifetime against the Aviators and 3-0-0-1 at 1st Summit Arena. Johnstown swept Elmira at home this season, with both contests going to overtime.
The purple and black found greater success in a series in mid-January. The Aviators smashed Johnstown 5-1 in Game 1, but fell in a shootout 2-1 in Game 2.
One area of the game that has stood out when Elmira meets Johnstown is the goaltending.
Zack Ferris is a veteran goaltender with a Division I commitment to Army for Johnstown. He’s received the bulk of the Tomahawk starts, including each of the last three.
However, Ferris has struggled mightily against Elmira, posting a 3.84 GAA and .882 save percentage when facing the Aviators.
Meanwhile, the man mostly playing second fiddle to Ferris, Nikita Oleksiienko, has been incredible against Elmira. Oleksiienko is 3-0 with a ridiculous 1.22 GAA and .962 save percentage against the Aviators.
He earned NAHL East Division First Star of the Week for his showing versus Elmira the week of Nov. 17.
If the Aviators can figure out Oleksiienko and continue their success against Ferris, then they should be able to come away with positive results in Johnstown this weekend.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Johnstown: Ben Norris (‘06 F)
It looks like Norris could suit up in his first game for Johnstown this weekend, and what a debut it would be against his old squad in Elmira.
Norris skated in 19 games for the Aviators last season, scoring four goals and totalling seven points. It’s no secret that the Tomahawks have been searching for depth scoring. Just three players on Johnstown have reached double-digit goals this season.
The Tomahawks will be hoping Norris can provide some scoring down the lineup and will have a kick of extra motivation to get back at his old team.
Elmira: Matthew Maglio (‘06 F)
Maglio is coming off a weekend of triumphant firsts. He scored his first shootout goal to win Elmira the game last Friday, notched his first hat trick with a trio of powerful one-timers on Saturday and picked up his first East Division First Star of the Week honors.
The Aviators’ leading scorer is hoping to keep the good times rolling against a team he’s had plenty of past success against. Maglio is a point-per-game player when facing the Tomahawks. He has three goals and six assists in nine career games against Johnstown.
Elmira hopes Maglio continues to lead the line up front while the newcomers continue to get acclimated to their new team and roles.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Fans can track all the exciting action by streaming the games on NATV or listening live on WINGZ93.
Game 1 is Friday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Game 2 is Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. Fans can also keep tabs on the games 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].