Titans Drop Game 1 to Johnstown
April 12, 2025 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
New Jersey Titans News Release
Three points by Alex Papaspyropoulos and 30 saves by Austin McNicholas would not be enough as the New Jersey Titans fell to the Johnstown Tomahawks by a score of 6-3 to kick off the first round of the 2024-2025 season playoffs Friday night at the Middletown Sports Complex.
The series marks the fifth time that New Jersey and Johnstown have met in the postseason, with each team winning a pair of series. Most recently, New Jersey swept Johnstown in the East Division Quarterfinals last season, winning both games on the road in Johnstown before falling to the Maryland Black Bears in the next round.
The Tomahawks would begin the game with an aggressive forecheck, outshooting New Jersey 5-1 in the first five minutes. Johnstown would find the first goal of the game half way through the first period with a shot from the high slot off a deflected pass to take the early lead. Despite the Tomahawks' best efforts, the Titans responded minutes later with a goal by Ryan Friedman, tapping home a back door rebound off an Owen Leahy shot. Papaspyropoulos picked up the secondary assist for his first playoff point, and the teams headed into the first intermission tied at one.
Johnstown restored their lead with a goal under five minutes into the second period. Reminiscent of the first frame, the Titans' Lucas Marshall poked home the equalizer just over a minute later to tie the game at two. However, New Jersey could not grab the lead before the Tomahawks offense pulled away. They took the lead for the final time with under eight minutes to go, followed by a power play goal and an insurance marker 71 seconds later to take a 5-2 lead, a margin they would maintain through the end of 40 minutes of play, in spite of New Jersey outshooting Johnstown 20-12 in the period.
The Titans were able to pull within two just under seven minutes into the final regulation period when Papaspyropoulos got behind the Tomahawk defense and sent the Johnstown goaltender sprawling to the ice to pull New Jersey within two. Leahy and Jayar Luedke got the assists on the Ontarian's first goal of the playoffs. A five on three powerplay that lasted for 1:24 gave the Titans an opportunity the cut the deficit in half, but New Jersey was unable to find the back of the net. Still trailing by two and on another power play in the final minutes, Austin McNicholas was called to the bench in favor of the extra attacker. Seconds later, a clearance from the Johnstown zone trickled into the empty net provided the final exclamation mark, giving the Tomahawks a 6-3 victory and a 1-0 series lead.
With the loss, New Jersey finds themselves on the brink of elimination and in danger of being swept in their last two playoff series, stretching back to the 2023-24 season. As the Titans prepare for their rematch against the Tomahwaks on Saturday, the weight of the entire regular season lies on their shoulders. With the burden that any mistake could be their last for the season, New Jersey must win on home ice to force a decisive Game 3.
The Titans will host the Tomahawks again on Saturday, April 12th, with their season on the line. With a special faceoff time of 6:00pm, tickets remain on sale.
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