September 24, 2022 (Attleboro, Mass.) – For the second time in as many games as a General Jake LaRusso scored the game winning goal lifting the Gens to their second straight win over East Division rival the Johnstown Tomahawks 4-2.
The win brings the Northeast record to 3-5 on the season, while the Tomahawks head back to New York with a 1-5 season record.
Both teams were held off the board in the first period with starting goalies Cullen DeYoung for the Generals, and Matt O’Donnell for Johnstown stopping a combined 17 shots in the opening frame.
Frank Jenkins opened the scoring 1:15 into the second period by finishing a rebound opportunity at the side of the Generals net. Zachary Aben carried the puck into the Generals zone on the right side and pulled a toe drag around the defenseman before throwing a shot towards the low far pad of DeYoung. With a rebound in front Jenkins joined the rush from his defensive position and banged I home making it 1-0.
The Generals tied the game at the 13:26 point of the period with Paul Minnehan finding the back of the net for the first time in the contest. Minnehan found the puck in the near side corner of the offensive zone and carried it above the circle and into the slot. In one motion the ASU commit turned and fired the puck over the glove of O’Donnell to tie the game.
James Barbour regained the Tomahawks lead at 16:40 while on the powerplay. Barbour held the puck on the far side half wall and moved down the wall and towards the net. With space in the circle Barbour ripped a shot off the far post and into the net past DeYoung.
Minnehan added a second goal in the late stages of the period to re-tie the game ahead of the second intermission. Dave Andreychuk carried the puck out of the nearside corner and around a defenseman towards the net. With Minnehan in front the two players connected with a short pass that Minnehan redirected into the back of the net.
Entering the third period tied at 2 LaRusso added a pair of goals to help the Generals to their second straight win. First, LaRusso finished off a rebound left from a Jared Scott breakaway, then LaRusso finished another rebound after Sixten Jennersjö’s initial shot was turned aside.
DeYoung (2-3) earned the win stopping 26 of 28 shots against him while O’Donnell (0-1) earned the loss in his first start of the season allowing 4 goals on 37 shots.
Next up for the Generals is a home and home with the Maine Nordiques next week. Friday night’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the village. The teams then head up to Lewiston, Maine and the Colisée for a 7 p.m. matchup on Saturday night.
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