Generals open 2017-18 season with win over Tomahawks

September 14, 2017

Johnstown 2 @ Northeast 4 - The Northeast Generals opened the 2017-18 NAHL season with a 4-2 home win over the Johnstown Tomahawks Wednesday afternoon at the New England Sports Center. It was the opening game of the 2017-18 NAHL regular season.

 

The Generals grabbed an early 1-0 lead after Mike Egan potted a loose puck behind Tomahawks goalie Vinnie Purpura. Colin McCabe registered the lone assist. Northeast added to their advantage when Brady Gaudette scored at the 8:22 mark of the first period.

 

Neither team yielded goals in the second frame as both Purpura and Generals netminder David Fessenden made quality stops on scoring chances.

 

Johnstown entered the third period down two goals and got to work trying to cut the deficit. The Tomahawks scored their first goal of the game at 8:08 of the third when Mitch Hale capitalized on a rebound opportunity on the power play to make the score 2-1. Logan Stork picked up the helper. Later in the third period, the Generals regained the two-goal advantage when Patrick Harrington found the back of the net. However, Johnstown quickly responded. On the power play, defenseman Hunter Carrick's wrist shot deflected off a Northeast skater and behind Fessenden to cut the Generals lead to 3-2.  Johnstown fell just short of tying the game as Northeast captain Colin Bilek sealed the game at 4-2 with an empty net goal. 

 

Fessenden made 20 saves in the win, while Purpura stopped 20 of 23 Northeast shots on goal in defeat.