Black Bears beat Johnstown | Pro Hockey News

The Maryland Black Bears hosted the Johnstown Tomahawks for the second time this season as they hoped to build on a 1-0 victory over the Maine Nordiques last Saturday.

The Black Bears decided to start scoring early and often, striking three times in the first period en route to a 5-2 win over Johnstown.

Forward Harrison Smith started the scoring for Maryland with two goals in the first period for a 2-0 lead. Less than a minute later, Black Bears forward Jaden Sikura got the puck alone in front of the net and fired his backhand past Johnstown Zach Ferris to make it 3-0. Johnstown responded early in the second with a Jack Genovese rebound goal to cut the deficit to 3-1.

But the Black Bears were undeterred as less than five minutes later, forward and captain Owen Drury put a rebound on the other side of the net to make it 4-1.

In the third period, Tomahawks’ forward Domeniks Domokejevs cut the lead to 4-2, but Maryland goalie Ryan Denes made big saves along the way.

Black Bears’ forward Brady Anes turned the game on with an empty-net goal, making the final score 5-2.

Ryan Denes made 17 saves in the win, while Zach Ferris made 25 in the loss.

Maryland and Johnstown take the ice again on Saturday, February 7 at 7:00 PM ET at the Piney Orchard Ice Arena. All games can be streamed on NATV.