Weekend Preview: 3/26 – 3/27; Titans travel to Johnstown for weekend series

Mar 25, 2021

The Titans will travel to Johnstown tomorrow to play a two-game series against the East Division leading Tomahawks at the 1st Summit Arena at Cambria County War Memorial. Friday’s puck drop is at 7:30 PM while Saturday’s game begins at 7:00 PM.

Tomahawks and Titans Overview
This will be the ninth and tenth time this season that the two remaining original teams of the NAHL East Division will meet. The series is split with each team winning four games (including a shootout) although the Tomahawks have outscored the Titans 28 – 26. Six of the previous eight games have been played at the Middletown Sports Complex. After this weekend’s series the two teams will complete their twelve-game schedule on April 16 and 17 in Johnstown.

The last time they met was back on February 26 and 27 with the Titans sweeping both games, including a 4 – 3 win on February 27 when Blake Humphrey scored the lone in a shootout for the Titans victory. New Jersey is nine points behind Johnstown although the Tomahawks have two games in hand.

Jay Ahearn (4 goals and 4 assists) and Brendan Clark (3 goals and 5 assists) each have eight points against the Titans while Ahearn has scored the most goals (four) against New Jersey. Johnstown is 6 for 30 (20%) on the powerplay (although they have given up three shorthanded goals). The Tomahawks goaltenders have a combined 2.83 goals against and .897 save percentage with no shutouts.

Levente Keresztes (2 goals and 7 assists) leads the Titans in total points with nine while Jake LaRusso and Evan Werner each have three goals against the Tomahawks. The Titans are 6 for 27 (22%) on the powerplay (although they have given up two shorthanded goals). The Titans goaltenders have a combined 3.18 goals against average and .923 save percentage with no shutouts against the Tomahawks.

Tomahawks Overview
The Tomahawks currently lead the East Division with a 26-7-2-2 record for 56 points. They are coming off a 5 – 4 home loss against the Northeast Generals, and they are 7 – 3 in their last ten games.  The Tomahawks have scored 146 goals (second in the league) on the season while they have allowed 102 (ninth in the league). Johnstown is 32 for 156 (20.5%) on the powerplay (sixth in the league), and they have allowed twelve shorthanded goals (most in the league).  The Tomahawks are 83.6% efficient on the penalty kill (10th in the league).

Ahearn leads the team in total points with 44 (20 goals and 24 assists) while John Gelatt and Ahearn each have a team high 20 goals. Gelatt also leads the team with five game winning goals and team best +25. Max Neill leads the team in penalty minutes with 101.

Johnstown’s goaltenders have a combined 2.65 goals against average and .907 save percentage with two shutouts (Sam Evola).

Titans Overview
The Titans are currently in third place in the East Division with a 20-12-2-5 for 47 points. They are coming off a3 – 0 home loss to the Maine Nordiques last weekend, and they have won seven out of their last ten games.  New Jersey has scored 140 goals on the season (third in the league) while they have allowed 121 (16th in the league). The Titans have converted on 19.2% (29 for 151) on the powerplay (7th in the league). They have allowed five goals while on the man advantage.  The Red Buckets are 85.4% efficient on the penalty kill (seventh in the league). The Titans have scored the most shorthanded goals in the league with 12.

Nick Seitz leads the team with 33 total points (15 goals and 18 assists) while Werner leads the team in goals (17). Seitz also has the most game winning goals with three. Anthony Mollica has a team best +16. Brad Zona has a team high 105 penalty minutes.

The Titans have a combined 2.90 goals against average and .919 save percentage with two shutouts (Christian Stoever and Loudon Hogg).