Blaine, MN – The Amarillo Wranglers defeated the Johnstown Tomahawks at the NAHL Showcase by the score of 5-2 to move to 3-1 on the season. This was the final game of the 20th annual NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota.
Luca Ganz started his second consecutive game in net after appearing in yesterday’s game vs. Northeast. Jacob Osborne started in goal for Johnstown.
The Wranglers got the game’s first goal from Jack Ivey on the power play 7:55 into the first. Topi Puikkonen got the lone assist. Ivey’s goal was the only goal on the board heading into the first intermission.
In the second period, Johnstown’s Jeremy LaCroix tied the game up at 1 apiece from Legkov and Van Tassel. But the Wranglers quickly stormed back to retake the lead 49 seconds later when Topi Puikkonen put home his third goal of the season. Colin Doherty picked up the only assist. 15 seconds later, Connor McNaughton flew into the offensive zone and beat Osborne through the legs to make it a 3-1 game. Cole Robertson picked up his first NAHL point with the assist. In the final moments of the period, the Wranglers scored a buzzer-beater goal when Roman Zap found Luke Morris for a tip-in goal with 1 second to go making it a 4-1 game. Zap and Gagnon got the assists.
13 seconds into the third period, the Tomahawks’ Zach Aben scored to make it 4-2. Johnstown had some chances on the power play, but the Wranglers penalty kill was perfect. 9:39 into the third, Roman Zap tipped in a shot from Kyle DeMarco to make it 5-2. The Wranglers would go on to win and improve to 3-1 on the season.
Luca Ganz stopped 33 of 35 shots faced in the win. Roman Zap and Topi Puikkonen each had a goal and an assist. Connor McNaughton scored the game-winning goal. The Wranglers penalty kill was a perfect 10/10.
The Wranglers will be back in action on September 29th at the Budweiser Bull Pen for the home opener vs. the Corpus Christi IceRays. Tickets are available now at panhandletickets.com.