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Chiefs get best of Jackals, 7-4

February 22, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Johnstown Chiefs scored six times in the first period and coasted to victory from there, beating the Elmira Jackals 7-4 in a Sunday afternoon tilt.

Johnstown improved to 31-19-3, reclaimed first place in the North Division with one game in hand over idle Cincinnati, and put a strong finish on a six-game homestand that saw the team go 4-1-1.

The game was also noteworthy for streaks: The Chiefs snapped a four-game losing streak to Elmira and a two-game winless stretch overall, but saw four players extend individual point streaks during a busy opening period.

The Chiefs opened the scoring just under three minutes in, when Blair Yaworski took a feed from Toby LaFrance in the slot and beat Jackals netminder Mitch O'Keefe. Yaworski's tenth goal of the season gave Johnstown the early 1-0 lead and the fans an early glimpse of things to come.

LaFrance found the twine 3:21 later for his seventh of the season. The rookie forward banged home a rebound on Jarrett Konkle's shot from the left circle to give Johnstown a two-goal lead with over half the period remaining.

Elmira answered just one minute later on Moises Gutierrez's marker to cut the lead to 2-1, but their momentum was short lived. Petr Pohl restored the two-goal advantage with a shorthanded breakaway goal through O'Keefe's legs for his 25th of the season and his fourth straight game with a point.

Elmira's Mike Sgroi celebrated his return to Johnstown by cutting the lead to 3-2 just 14 seconds later, but the Chiefs responded with three goals in a span of 5:14 that gave the home team a commanding lead.

Konkle scored twice on the power play in 60 seconds to bring the advantage to 5-2, the first off assists from Pohl and Andrew Sarauer and the second from Pohl and Trevor Hendrikx. The goals were Konkle's 25th and 26th, while the assists extended a trio of streaks for Johnstown: Pohl marked four straight games with an assist, Sarauer registered a point in his seventh straight contest, and Hendrikx marked three straight with a point.

Todd Griffith capped off the first period by deflecting a shot by Greg Gallagher behind O'Keefe for his sixth marker of the season and a 6-2 advantage. The goal chased O'Keefe, who made just six saves on 12 attempts, while Gallagher's assist brought his point streak to three games.

While Johnstown's offense was quiet in the second period, Chiefs netminder Kyle Gajewski stole the show instead. The team's newest acquisition, making his first start in a Chiefs sweater, faced 17 shots in the middle frame, allowing a single goal to Steve Yetman at 8:32 and nothing else while often looking spectacular in the process. The rookie goaltender's best effort came in the waning moments of the period, denying Brandon Roach with a sprawling save during a Jackals power play to keep the game at 6-3 headed into the second intermission.

Elmira briefly made things interesting in the third period by pulling backup goaltender Michael Teslak with nine minutes to play during a two-man advantage, but the Chiefs killed the penalties and ended the threat. The Jackals cut the lead to 6-4 with a late shorthanded goal by Paul McIlveen, but Todd Griffith buried an empty net power play marker with five seconds remaining for his seventh of the year to bring the final score to 7-4.

Kyle Gajewski finished with 37 in picking up his first win for Johnstown. The Chiefs were 4-for-9 on the power play.

Mark your calendars! The Chiefs are back on home ice on Wednesday, March 4th against the Wheeling Nailers on Pups and Pucks Night. Good seats are available, but going quickly! Act fast and be sure to get your seat by calling 814-539-1799 or 814-536-5156.



ECHL Stories from February 22, 2009


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