Laurent Trepanier of the Maine Nordiques tries to tip a shot past Johnstown goaltender Zack Ferris and defenseman Issac Holt in first period Saturday at The Colisee. Ron Morin photos
The Maine Nordiques and Johnstown Tomahawks needed a shootout to decide Saturday’s NAHL East Division game at The Colisee.
Shane Kozlina’s game-winning goal in the shootout gave the Nordiques a 3-2 victory.
The goal doesn’t count towards his individual statistics, a fact rued by Maine coach Nick Skerlick, who lauded Kozlina is a hard worker and a fast skater.
“It stinks, he won’t get a point or a goal for it, but Shane Kozlina was our best player this weekend,” Nordiques coach Nick Skerlick said. “He’s getting better every single day. The nine games he played last year for coach (Matt) Pinchevsky helped him.”
Chase Sandhu’s shot beat Nordiques (16-5-2, 34 points) goalie Carter Richardson midway through the first period to give Johnstown a 1-0 lead.
Charles Tardif scored in the final minute of the first stanza to get the Nordiques on the board.
Kellen Murphy scored his second goal of the weekend early in the second period to give the Nordiques a 2-1 lead.
“Kellen has played out of this world,” Skerlick said. “He will be a contender for the player of the month; I think he scored six of the seven games this month.”
The score remained 2-1 for the entire second period.
Matthew Lewis, right, of the Nordiques collides with Johnstown forward Isaac Rentmeester in second-period action Saturday at The Colisee. Ron Morin photos
Johnstown’s (12-9-1, 25 points) Jaden Johnson evened the contest at 2-2 a little over five minutes into the game.
“We had the lead, then we lost the lead. It’s another game we lost the lead,” Skerlick said. “It’s something we need to go to the drawing board (about) because I am more nervous when we are up a goal than down a goal. If we are down a goal in the third period, I know we will play way harder.”
Richardson made 36 for Maine saves and Zach Ferris made 39 saves for Johnstown.
The Nordiques return to Colisee next Saturday for a 7 p.m. game against the Northeast Generals.
Matthew Lewis of the Maine Nordiques collides with Johnstown forward Isaac Rentmeester during the second period Saturday at The Colisee. Ron Morin photos
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