Ryan Patrick scored right before the siren went off to end the game to give the visiting Philadelphia Rebels a 3 – 2 win over the Johnstown Tomahawks. It was the Rebels 40th win on the season.
Tender Aaron Bohlinger scored his first NAHL career goal just 2:09 into the first period to give the Rebels the early lead.
After Jimmy Glynn fought off Tomahawks’ defenseman Chase Davidson for the loose puck, Glynn sent a pass along the end boards to Patrick in the near side corner. Patrick sent a touch pass back to Bohlinger at the point and the Walden, NY native took a wrist shot on goal that found its way through a screen and past former Rebel Jack Leavy short side to make it 1 – 0.
Bohlinger was called for holding at 8:10 into the opening period to give the Tomahawks the man advantage.
After Bryant Gunn cleared the puck into the Tomahawks zone, Leavy set up the play to the right of his own net for Toby Sengvongxay. The Johnstown defenseman skated out of his own zone to center ice where he circled and found Roman Kraemer on his right. Kraemer would enter the offensive zone and skated around Rebels defenseman Tyler Pohlig and in on Ryan Keane and Kraemer beat the Rebels netminder down low to tie the game at one at the 8:41 mark.
Auggie Moore would give the Rebels the lead again with 6: 34 left in the first.
Chase Hamstad would pick up the loose puck at center ice after it went off the skate of Tomahawks’ forward Joe Kile. Hamstad would skate along the far side boards into the offensive zone and towards the net. As he started to circle the net, Hamstad left the puck to the right side of Leavy and Moore jammed the puck short sided past Leavy for his twelfth goal on the season.
The Tomahawks would tie it at 4:06 into the second period on Kraemer’s second goal of the game.
With time winding down on coincidental penalties, Sam Solensky picked up the loose puck at center ice and passed it over to Kraemer on his left, who entered the offensive zone on a 3 on 2. As soon as Kraemer crossed the blue line, he sent a drop pass to Solensky who immediately sent a return pass back to Kraemer. Kraemer would skate behind the Rebels net and scored on a wraparound to even the score.
Tomahawks’ forward Christian Gorscak was called for tripping with 1:51 left in the game to put the Rebels on the powerplay.
With ten seconds left in regulation, Patrick had the puck at the top of the far side faceoff circle. Looking to set up the play, he passed it over to Nico Appendino back at the point. Appendino sent the puck to Alex Frye at the near side faceoff dot. Frye took a slapshot that was saved by Leavy but Patrick was there to jam in the rebound past Leavy to give the Rebels the win as the buzzer started to sound.
Keane stopped 18 of 20 shots while Leavy turned aside 31 of 34. Click here for the box score.
The two teams will finish out the regular season tonight starting at 7:05pm at the War Memorial.
