JOHNSTOWN, PA – On Saturday night, the Philadelphia Rebels (23-26-2-1, 49 pts) dropped a back-and-forth game in overtime 6-5 to the Johnstown Tomahawks (25-23-3-1, 54 pts).
The Rebels started off fast, just over five minutes into the game when Luke deVries gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead. It was the Rebels’ first time scoring the opening goal in their last four games. Johnstown would tie the game at one off a power-play goal later in the period.
With just seconds to spare in the first period, Tyler Stern was able to find the back of the net for his ninth of the season to give the Rebels a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
The second period became a scoring frenzy as the teams continued to trade goals. Johnstown evened the score early in the second, but for the second-straight night, Philadelphia had an answer right away after a Johnstown tally.
Fourteen seconds later, Max Hamstad gave the Rebels the lead once again with his 13th goal of the season.
The Rebels would once again watch that lead disappear as Johnstown was able to score two more goals to give them a 4-3 lead heading into the final frame.
Two power-play goals in the third period, gave the Rebels their fourth lead of the night with Kris Samitis (7) and David Deputy (17).
Deputy’s goal of the season would give the Rebels a late 5-4 lead with just over five minutes to go in the final frame.
Johnstown, again, had an answer to force overtime. The Rebels controlled the puck most of overtime, but after Klaus Jogi hit a post, Johnstown’s Anthony Galante beat Jakub Krbecek to end the game.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow at 3 p.m. as the Rebels look to salvage the three-game set with a win.
