Aviators surge back for shootout win over Tomahawks
JOHNSTOWN, PA. – The Elmira Aviators (19-28-3-1) outlasted the Johnstown Tomahawks (26-20-3-2) for a 3-2 shootout victory Saturday night.
It was a low-scoring, tight-checking tilt throughout, but the Aviators eventually found their goals in the third period. At the tail end of the middle frame, a late penalty sent Elmira to the power play.
The Aviators made sure to pay off the man-advantage to start the third with two close friends combining for a goal.
Clarence Beltz received a handoff from his buddy Jett Otwell and swiftly roofed the frozen biscuit into the Tomahawks’ net. It felt like a major relief for the Aviators, who had struggled to carve out scoring chances for most of the hockey game.
However, that relief was short-lived. The Tomahawks got back their lead 12 seconds after the Aviators’ equalizer.
Elmira was then back to square one, chasing a one-goal deficit against one of the stoutest defenses in the East Division. Aviator goaltender Wesley Jefferson-Swint II made sure the deficit stayed at one with a spectacular performance.
Jefferson-Swint II made 30 saves on 32 shots in the Elmira victory, including a show-stopping save against reigning East Division First Star of the Week Charlie Zetterkvist. He also sprawled to make a wild stop just before the end of regulation.
The Aviators got a moment of brilliance from forward Matt Maglio to tie the game at two. The 2006-born forward took the puck coast-to-coast and wired a powerful wrist shot to even the score.
The game then went into overtime, where both teams exchanged great chances in the three-on-three. However, the goaltenders remained supreme.
The netminders continued to shine in the shootout, but Elmira’s Curtiss Sturgeon soared a puck off the post and in to give the Aviators a lead.
Jefferson-Swint II then made the final stop to propel the Aviators to a much-needed come-from-behind victory.
Next weekend, the Aviators will face the Philadelphia Rebels in their final home series of the regular season. Game 1 is Friday at 7 p.m., and Game 2 is Saturday at 7 p.m. and is a free kids’ night.
The games can be streamed on NATV and listened to on Big Foot Country Legends.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].