Rebels Lose 3-2 in Overtime
February 28, 2016 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Philadelphia Rebels News Release
It started towards the end of Friday night's game. The taunting by the fans. The trash talking by the players. Since Johnstown was losing bad, you could already see their game play for Saturday night. It almost didn't work but the game took a scary turn in the second which helped propel the Tomahawks to defeat the Rebels 3-2 in overtime.
Despite the physical play, the Rebels completely outplayed Johnstown in the first. Luke Picek took a tripping call that put the Rebels on the power play. Dom Garcia then put the Rebels up 1-0 with his seventh goal on the season at 6:46 into the open period with assists from Michael Merulla and Ryan Cusin.
Picek put the Rebels on the power play again after a check from behind (and subsequently received a ten minute misconduct). Brennan Kapcheck fed Michael Merulla who beat Tomahawks goalie Andrew Lindgren to put the Rebels up 2-0.
Then the shenanigans began.
Johnstown's Logan Hudson reached out to his alter ego Dave "Killer" Carlson and went after Evgeny Yakovlev. Both were ejected from the game but the cheap shots from Johnstown didn't stop.
With five minutes left in the second, Austin Swingle - who had been verbally abused by fans the previous night - went for the puck on the boards. Tomahawks forward Alex Alger had Swingle in his cross hairs and lined him up. He viscously hit Swingle from behind sending the Rebels forward to the ice and lie motionless. Swingle's teammates were stunned as they watched the medics place Swingle on a gurney and taken to the nearby Johnstown hospital.
As the distraught Rebels began the third period, Johnstown's Anthony Parrucci got the home team on the board two minutes into the third when he beat Trevor Micucci to cut the in half. Then more fights occurred. Logan Hudson and Kelly O'Brien became took on Rebels defenseman Michael Underwood and forward Andrew Bellant. With Gvido Janson called for slashing, it set up Luke Lynch's game tying goal sending the game into overtime.
Johnstown's Tommy Horn scored the game winner in overtime giving the two teams a split over the weekend. The Rebels trail first place New Jersey by four points but are ahead of the third place Tomahawks by two. Click here for the box score.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2016
- Titans Finish Weekend with Shootout Win - New Jersey Titans
- Jets Congratulate Largen - Janesville Jets
- Wings 1 Point Back of Final Playoff Spot - Aberdeen Wings
- Rebels Lose 3-2 in Overtime - Philadelphia Rebels
- Bobcats Hold off Wings to Earn Sweep - Bismarck Bobcats
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