Chiefs ride comeback trail past Jackals

March 8, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Johnstown Chiefs finished a stretch of four games in five days with a 5-4 win over the Elmira Jackals on Sunday afternoon at the UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at the Cambria County War Memorial.

For the first time in three games the Chiefs scored the first goal of the game with Blair Yaworski opening the scoring at 7:27. Jarrett Konkle, just returned from Binghamton of the AHL, set up Yaworski on the doorstep for his 14th goal. Chaz Johnson converted on a 3-on-1 rush for the Jackals to tie the game at 11:55. The score stayed that way as the teams headed to the locker rooms after 20 minutes.

Johnstown earned an early power play in the second and wasted no time in retaking the lead. Toby LaFrance took a feed from Andrew Sarauer right in front of the net and slid it along the ice past Mitch O'Keefe for Johnstown's loan power play goal of the game. Twenty seven seconds later, though, Paul McIlveen put a rebound behind Sebastian Dahm to know the game at two. Pierre-Luc Faubert scored an unassisted shorthanded goal after stealing the puck from the Chiefs at center to give Elmira a 3-2 lead heading to the third period.

Nathan Lutz, Elmira's captain, put the Chiefs in a two-goal hole with a slap shot from the left point 2:22 into the third. Lutz, and the Jackals, made one mistake, though, because they left Johnstown too much time to attempt the comeback. A minute and three seconds after Lutz's goal, Russ Sinkewich and Toby LaFrance set up Yaworski's second goal of the game to get Johnstown back within one. Sinkewich's assist was his first professional point. Mike Knight, playing with 10 stitches in his right hand, drove the slot to score his third goal of the season - Johnstown's fourth of the game - to tie it up. Konkle earned his second assist, and Wes Clarked picked up a helper too. Andy Contois completed the comeback with his ninth of the season at 14:03 with Sean Berkstresser and Ryan Card assisting.

Contois' goal was of the "garbage" variety. Card kept an Elmira clearing attempt in at the center point and slid a pass to Berkstresser on the left wing. The rookie skated hard down the wing, circled the Jackals' net, and tossed the puck to the top of the crease where Contois jammed it past a falling down O'Keefe.

Dahm, in his second start of the week, turned in a 28-save performance to earn his second win of the season in Johnstown. The Chiefs ended the game 1-for-5 on the power play.

Mark your calendars! The Chiefs are back on home ice on Friday, March 13 when they host the Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:05 p.m. ET. Mazzei and Associates is sponsoring a Chiefs flag giveaway and fans can take advantage of the "Lucky 13" ticket option. Any seat in section 13, or any seat numbered 13, can be bought for just $13. 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 March 8, 2009


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