Sports stats



Chiefs Overthrow Royals in Shootout

November 21, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Johnstown Chiefs played another tight contest against the Reading Royals and prevailed for the fourth straight time against them this season, winning a nine-round shootout 2-1. The final score read 4-3 in favor of Johnstown.

The win improved the Chiefs to 11-4-0, and gave them wins in eight of their last nine games.

Johnstown got off to a slow start out of the gate, taking a penalty minutes after the opening face off. The Chiefs killed the penalty, but moments later, Reading's Shawn Snider beat Chiefs goaltender Kris Mayotte over the left shoulder to give the visiting Royals an early 1-0 lead. Reading carried the play offensively in the first as they outshot the Chiefs 10-5, but solid play by Mayotte kept the Chiefs in it.

The bright spot of Johnstown's first period was a brilliant save by Mayotte in the waning minutes. Dan

Rudisuela found daylight for a point-blank shot from the low slot, but the Chiefs netminder robbed him with the glove to keep Johnstown within one.

The Chiefs came roaring back in the second. A hooking penalty on Patrick Wellar led to Mike Bartlett's tying goal at 4:22. The game remained at 1-1 for the next eight minutes, when Matt Curley took an interference minor for Reading. The Chiefs were unable to capitalize, but moments after the penalty ended, Bartlett banked a pass off the wall to Andrew Sarauer, and the rookie beat Reading netminder Danny Taylor over the right shoulder for a 2-1 lead.

Reading had an opportunity to tie the game in the final minutes of the frame on a power play. A shot from the point bounced off Mayotte onto the stick of Luciano Aquino, but his shot hit the post, keeping the game tied. The Chiefs outshot the Royals 13-6 for the second frame and kept Taylor and the Royals' defense on their heels.

The Chiefs looked to have put the game away in the third period. Nearly seven minutes in, Codey Burki's drive to the net resulted in a rebound chance for Jason Spence, who beat a lunging Taylor with a shot over the right shoulder. Spence's second of the year gave Johnstown a 3-1 lead with 13:12 remaining in the game.

But Reading fought back with a strong power play. With Mike Knight off for slashing, Aquino cut the lead to one with a shot from the right circle deflected that past Mayotte to cut the lead to 3-2 with 12 minutes left in the game.

Later, Ryan Del Monte's hooking penalty put Reading on the power play again, and again the Royals capitalized. This time, Kirk MacDonald tipped a pass from Rob LaLonde by Mayotte to knot the game at three with 5:51 to play. Neither team was able to score again so things moved to overtime.

A scoreless overtime saw Mayotte make a sliding pad save on Reading's only shot of the period. For the most part, however, it was Taylor who was busy, stopping 5 shots in the extra frame.

In the shootout, Reading shot first, but it was Johnstown who got on the board first when Petr Pohl beat Taylor through the five-hole. The very next shooter, Aquino, responded by snapping a wrist shot over Mayotte's right shoulder to tie the shootout at 1-1.

Brock Hooton had an opportunity to put Reading ahead in the fifth round, but Mayotte made a blocker save to keep the shootout tied. It was the last time he needed to be spectacular.

In the eighth round, Codey Burki bounced a shot off the left post, but the puck stayed out, and the shootout continued.

It was Landry who finished the deal as Johnstown's very next shooter, firing a shot off the same post and, this time, behind Taylor for the victory.

Mayotte made 20 saves in regulation for Johnstown, and eight in the shootout as he earned his seventh win of the year. The Chiefs power play ended up 1-for-4 on the night.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from November 21, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Johnstown Chiefs Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central