Wenatchee Wild splits with Tomahawks

WENATCHEE - For the second time in as many weeks the Wenatchee Wild split a two-game series with the Johnstown Tomahawks.

The Wild won Friday's matchup 2-1 before falling to the Tomahawks on Saturday 5-4 in a shootout at home.

"Other than the stick penalties we took, I was pretty happy with our effort all night," head coach Bliss Littler said after Friday's win. "They're (Johnstown) a pretty hard team to play against. They're well coached."

Johnstown took the early lead Friday before the Wild rallied to take the lead in the second period behind two goals from Jakob Ahlgren. Ahlgren scored his first just 22 seconds into the period and score the goal ahead goal with 7:07 left in the period off an assist from David Powlowski and Matthew Nuttle.

"Overall I thought the effort was good and we created chances," Littler said. "You have to create chances against this team; they don't give up much as far as outnumbered rushes. Your offense has to come from face offs and power plays."

Saturday's game was a back and forth affair with three ties.

Johnstown took the early edge, before Wenatchee's Parker Tuomie tied the score 1-1 in the second period. The Tomahawks regained the lead later in the period, but once again Tuomie scored the equalizer and the two teams entered the third period tied 2-2. Johnstown stretched its lead to 4-2 in the third period before Andre Pison and Troy Loggins both found the back of the net to tie the game 4-4, forcing overtime.

After a scoreless extra session, the Tomahawks were able to escape with a 5-4 win in a shootout.

"I thought we played awful well tonight," Littler said. "We kept shooting ourselves in the foot with four breakout turnovers, all went in the back of the net, but I thought it was a very good effort, especially getting the goaltender out and scoring two to tie it up."

Wenatchee now sits at 13-11-3 and travels to Aberdeen for a two-game set today and Saturday.