The Titans will conclude their regular season series against the Johnstown Tomahawks this weekend with a two-game set that begins tomorrow night at 7:30PM at the Middletown Sports Complex. Saturday’s contest will begin at 7:00PM. All fans who attend Saturday’s game will receive a free team photo.
The Titans have seven games remaining in the regular season, five of them will be played at home, which includes this weekend’s series. The Titans will host Danbury on April 6 and then close out their home schedule next weekend against Maryland. The Red Buckets will close out the season on the road for a two-game series against Northeast.
After clinching their first-ever regular season championship last week, the Titans remaining games are very critical since three of the four teams they will be playing are still vying for playoff spots. Only two points separate second place Maryland from fifth place Northeast (top four teams make the playoffs). The only East division teams who definitely will not qualify for the playoffs at the moment are Danbury and Maine.
Tomahawks vs. Titans Overview
These will be games seventh and eighth between the teams this year with the Titans having won five of the past six, including one in a shootout. Despite winning 83% of the games this season against the Tomahawks, the Titans have outscored Johnstown by only two goals (19 to 17).
The last time they played was back on December when the Titans swept the Tomahawks in Johnstown (the second time this season and only the second time in the club’s seven year history) by a combined score of 9 to 6.
Jake Black leads the Tomahawks with six total points (4 goals and 2 assists) against the Titans as well as goals (4). Johnstown is 3 for 18 (17%) on the powerplay against New Jersey while the Tomahawks goalies have a combined 2.82 goals against average and .920 save percentage with no shutouts.
Michael Young leads the Titans with six total points (3 goals and 3 assists) against Johnstown while Anthony Calafiore has scored the most goals (4). The Titans have yet to score on the powerplay against the Tomahawks in six games (0 for 19). Titans netminders have a combined 2.80 goals against average and .898 save percentage with no shutouts.
Tomahawks Overview
Johnstown is currently in third place in the East Division with a 29-19-4-2 record for 64 points. They are coming off a 4 – 2 road loss to the Jamestown Rebels (Jamestown swept Johnstown last weekend). Johnstown has won four of their last ten games. The Tomahawks have scored 199 goals on the season (4th in the league) while they have allowed 165 (13th in the league). Johnstown is 42 for 176 (23.9%) on the powerplay (7th in the league), and they have allowed four shorthanded goals while on the man advantage. The Tomahawks are 85.9% efficient on the penalty kill (3rd in the league), and they have scored nine shorthanded goals (including two against the Titans).
Black leads the Tomahawks with 70 total points (39 goals and 31 assists) and goals (39). Black is third in the league overall in total points. Holt Oliphant has the most game winning goals with five. Black also has a team best +21. Zachary Murray has a team high 58 penalty minutes.
Johnstown’s goaltenders have a combined 2.91 goals against average and .906 save percentage with two shutouts.
Titans Overview
Although they already have clinched the division, the Titans currently have a 39-12-2-0 record for 80 points. The have a 15-point lead over second place Maryland. They are coming off a 4 – 1 home win over the Jr. Hat Tricks, and they have won nine out of their last 10 games. New Jersey has scored 210 goals on the season (second in the league) while they have allowed 142 (4th in the league). The Titans have converted on 18.9% (35 for 185) of their chances on the powerplay (17th in the league), and they have allowed six goals while on the man advantage. The Red Buckets are 82.5% efficient on the penalty kill (11th in the league). The Titans have scored nine shorthand goals.
Tommy Bannister leads the team with 60 total points (20 goals and 40 assists) while Calafiore has the most goals (24). Calafiore also has a team best seven game winning goals. David Posma has a team (and league) best +45. Blake Farrell has a team high 135 penalty minutes.
The Titans goaltenders have a combined 2.60 goals against average and .911 save percentage with three shutouts (Andrew Takacs).