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Chiefs tripped up in OT

April 3, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


CINCINNATI, Oh. - The Johnstown Chiefs picked up a critical point for making to overtime against the Cincinnati Cyclones on Friday night. However, they couldn't pick up the extra point for the win as the Cyclones took a 4-3 decision.

Johnstown's record fell to 37-29-5, but with Wheeling's loss against Dayton kept Johnstown within one point of the final playoff spot in the North. With a Johnstown win and a Wheeling loss on Saturday the Chiefs will be in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the third straight season.

With its playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Johnstown needed to come out playing like a desperate hockey team, and that's exactly what it did. The Chiefs held a territorial advantage throughout the entire opening frame and out-shot the Cyclones 11-4. The Chiefs' relentless pressure forced Cincinnati into penalty trouble when Jimmy Kilpatrick and Mac Faulkner were whistled for minor penalties 30 seconds apart. Mike Knight provided the firepower on the 5-on-3 advantage by one-timing a shot in from the slot for his fifth goal of the season at 13:40. Cincinnati, though, converted on its own 5-on-3 at 18:24 with Mark Van Guilder scoring from the doorstep.

Johnstown and Cincinnati may be two of the most resilient clubs in the ECHL and both proved it in the second period. Todd Griffith struck quickly for the Chiefs to give them the one-goal lead back. The fiesty wing stole a Cyclones outlet pass and wristed it past Ryan Nie before he could get set, and made it 2-1 1:54 into the frame. Matt Syroczynski continued to be a thorn in the Chiefs' collective side, and tied the game at two with his 25th goal of the season by firing a wrister past Kris Mayotte halfway through the period. Johnstown's power play came through, though, when Andy Contois took an alley-oop pass from Randy Rowe and raced in on the breakaway to slide one past Nie.

The Chiefs would not be able to extend their lead in the third period, and a 5-on-3 power play would give Cincinnati a chance to tie it. Mike Salekin did that with a slap shot from the top of the left circle with assists from T.J. McElroy and Barret Ehgoetz. The Chiefs' penalty kill came through in a big way, though, when Todd Griffith was whistled for hooking at 16:53. The defense clamped down and Mayotte made some big saves to get the Chiefs a point for making it to overtime. But the power play of Cincinnati came through again in extra time. Van Guilder's second of the game found its way in 2:11 into the extra frame and prevented Johnstown from moving into fourth place.

Mayotte sustained the loss while making 15 saves, and the Chiefs finished the night 2-for-8 on the power play.

Don't forget that Chiefs playoff tickets are on sale right now. There are discounted packages available for season and non-season ticket holders alike. For more information on Chiefs' 2009 Kelly Cup Playoff tickets call the Chiefs' front office at 814-539-1799.

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