The New Jersey Titans completed the sweep of the Johnstown Tomahawks, taking Game 2 by a score of 4-1. It is the second time that New Jersey has swept Johnstown in the playoffs.
Reversing last night’s fortunes, New Jersey took control of the game early, recording eight shots on goal before the Tomahawks recorded their second. They needed to wait until the 17:18 to find the back of the net, when Titans Youth product Arhip Sidarovich wristed a shot to the blocker side to give the Titans the lead. Johnny McMahon had the lone assist as the Titans took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, after outshooting the Tomahawks 13-5 in the frame.
New Jersey began the second period well, but quickly found themselves in trouble by taking three straight penalties. The Tomahawks, with the league’s 8th best power play in the regular season, made the Titans pay by tying the game at 1-1. More worryingly for New Jersey, the Tomahawks maintained the offensive momentum from the man advantages, outshooting the Titans 11-5 as the teams entered the third period deadlocked at one.
The third period began with both teams emphasizing the defensive side of things, with only 3 shots a piece through the first 10 minutes of the period. With play opening up as Johnstown looked to take the lead, it was Odin Ford who sprang Dominick Rivelli on a two on one with Ryan Novo, and the Army commit scored his second goal in as many games to put the Titans up 2-1 with 6:23 remaining in regulation. Now desperate, the Tomahawks defense would not hold, and Rivelli added an insurance marker with just over a minute to go, assisted by Novo and Ryan Friedman. Dominik Bartecko put the nail in Johnstown’s coffin with his first playoff goal since the 2021 playoffs as a member of the Janesville Jets, and the Titans skated away with two wins on the road to advance.
Next up, New Jersey will travel to Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton, Maryland, for a Best of 5 clash against the top seeded Maryland Black Bears. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, April 19th, and can be watched live on NAtv by selecting the “Away” feed.