Chiefs Pummel Bombers

April 6, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Dayton, OH - The Johnstown Chiefs started off the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a dominating 3-1 win over the Dayton Bombers on Sunday night. The Chiefs out-shot Dayton 41-to-26 in picking up their first win in the state of Ohio since the 2006-07 season.

Johnstown wasted no time in getting on the Nutter Center scoreboard. Ray Macias started a coast-to-coast rush behind the Johnstown net. The defenseman carried up ice, beating three Bombers along the way. After lugging the puck about 175 feet, Macias hit Randy Rowe coming down the slot, and the reigning ECHL Player of the Month used a deke to the backhand to get Rejean Beauchemin out of position. Rowe slid the puck in just 39 seconds into the first period.

Power play was the word of the second period as the Chiefs and Bombers combined for three of them in the middle frame, but as was the case in the first Johnstown ended up on top.

With the Chiefs skating 5-on-3 for 1:28, Rowe took a pass on the low right wing from Ryan Garlock, and slammed it home for his second goal of the game. Alex Imbeault picked up the secondary assist for his first point of the playoffs. Imbeault then got himself a power play tally in the goal column on a crazy play.

Greg Gallagher got the puck at the point on a feed from Rowe, and looked to work it behind the net by shooting it down the wall. The puck caught a seam in the boards and shot straight to Imbeault in the left faceoff circle. Beauchemin was way out of position, and never had a chance on the shot. The goal came at 2:02.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the third period, although Jean Desrochers came close. From the hash mark in the Dayton zone, Andrew Martens hit Desrochers with a pass below the right circle. Desorchers let the one-timer go, but Beauchemin made a great point blank save.

Ryan Nie picked up his sixth consecutive victory dating back to the regular season as he made 24 saves on 25 Dayton shots. Nie had his streak of scoreless play halted at 167 minutes and 16 seconds, but has allowed only one goal in his last three starts. The Chiefs power play excelled, going 2-for-5 on the night.

The Chiefs' return to home ice for Game 2 of the first round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs on Tuesday, April 8. Johnstown will face off against the Dayton Bombers at the Cambria County War Memorial at 7:05 PM. Game 3, if necessary, will be played on Wednesday, April 9 with a 7:05 PM faceoff.



ECHL Stories from April 6, 2008


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