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Weekly Arrowhead #25

April 14, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, PA - An up-and-down week, last week, saw the Chiefs finish a sweep of the North Division Quarter Finals against Dayton, but fall behind the Cincinnati Cyclones two games to none in the North Division Semifinals. After opening in Cincinnati, the series shifts to Johnstown, where the Chiefs have won eight of their last 11, for two games at the War Memorial this Tuesday and Wednesday.

Record (final regular season) - 36-30-3-3, 78 pts., 4th place North Division

Leaders (final regular season):

Goals - Ryan Garlock/Alex Imbeault: 26

Assists - Randy Rowe: 44

Points - Randy Rowe: 68

+/- - Randy Rowe: +21

PIMs - Mike Sgroi: 257

PPG - Jean Desrochers: 12

Wins - Ryan Nie: 29

GAA - Ryan Nie: 2.80

SVP - Ryan Nie: .897

Record (playoffs) - 2-2-0: won North Div. Qtr. Finals vs. Dayton 2-0

trail North Div. Semifinals vs. Cincinnati 0-2

Leaders (playoffs):

Goals - Randy Rowe/Ryan Garlock: 3

Assists -Ryan Garlock/Alex Imbeault: 4

Points - Ryan Garlock: 7

+/- - Greg Gallagher: +3

PIMs - Nathan Saunders: 14

PPG -Alex Imbeault: 2

Wins - Ryan Nie: 2

GAA - Ryan Nie: 2.26

SVP - Ryan Nie: .920

This Week:

4/15 & 4/16 vs. Cincinnati, 7:05 p.m. (regular: 2-8-0-0, playoffs: 0-2-0)

While Cincinnati is in control of the series with a 2-0 lead, the Cyclones know they will get a stiff test from the Chiefs at the War Memorial. On home ice, the Chiefs have won their last four decisions by a combined score of 19-to-3, including three consecutive shutouts. Those numbers account for the final three wins at home in the regular season, and the playoff win over Dayton. The Chiefs have also won two straight at the War Memorial over Cincinnati, 4-3 in a shootout on March 21 and 6-3 on March 29.

NOTE: The schedule of games, should they be necessary, for the remainder of the North Division Semifinals is as follows:

- Game 5 - Friday, April 18 at Cincinnati; 7:35 p.m.

- Game 6 - Saturday, April 19 at Johnstown; 7:05 p.m.

- Game 7 - Monday, April 21 at Cincinnati; 7:35 p.m.

None Shall Pass:

Cincinnati's defense during the regular season was impressive as it gave up only 178 goals (second fewest in the league). However, Johnstown's defense on home ice over the last two weeks has been simply dumbfounding. After a 6-5 setback against Wheeling on Easter Sunday, the Chiefs are giving up less than a goal per game at the War Memorial (3 goals in 4 games). That stretch includes three straight shutouts against Trenton (5-0), Wheeling (3-0), and Dayton (5-0). Two-time ECHL Goalie of the Week Ryan Nie earned each of those shutouts, and has not given up a goal at the War Memorial since 17:38 of the second period on March 29 against Cincinnati. Johnstown has also killed off 16 consecutive penalties in its last four games at home which is nine shy of the 25 consecutive penalties killed off from January 18 to February 13 (7 games).

Day by Day:

Mon. 4/14: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Tues. 4/15: Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Cyclones, Game 3; 7:05 p.m.

Wed. 4/16: Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Cyclones, Game 4; 7:05 p.m.

Thurs. 4/17: TBD

Fri. 4/18: (IF NECESSARY) Chiefs at Cincinnati Cyclones, Game 5; 7:35 p.m.

Sat. 4/19: (IF NECESSARY) Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Cyclones, Game 6; 7:05 p.m.

Sun. 4/20: TBD

Last Week: (1-2-0)

4/8 vs. Dayton: W 5-0

Although no one would have guessed it at the time, Ryan Garlock scored the game-winning goal 11 seconds into Johnstown's series-clinching win over the Bombers. That was all the scoring support Ryan Nie would need as he earned his third shutout in his last four starts. For insurance, Garlock added his second goal of the playoffs at 9:29 of the first, and Ray Macias pumped in a 5-on-3 power play goal at 14:20. Jean Desrochers' (1st, 7:24) second period tally, and Alex Imbeault's (2nd, 10:08) on the power play in the third set the final.

4/11 at Cincinnati: L 5-2

With confidence brimming after the two game sweep of Dayton, the Chiefs lit up the U.S. Bank Arena scoreboard 40 seconds into the game. It was the third time in as many games that the Chiefs scored in less than a minute to start a game. That lead wouldn't hold up, though, because the Chiefs didn't add to it until Ryan Garlock scored his third of the playoffs at 17:37 of the third period. Cincinnati posted five unanswered goals from David Desharnais (1st, 7:59, pd.1), Scott Reynolds (1st, 10:06, pd. 1), Thomas Beauregard (1st, 18:06, pd. 2), Mathieu Aubin (1st, 10:50, pd. 3), and Beauregard (2nd, 12:07, pd. 3). The Chiefs were unable to convert on seven power play chances, including 55 seconds of a 5-on-3.

4/12 at Cincinnati: L 4-1

For the first time in the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Chiefs did not score the game's first goal as Mathieu Aubin's power play tally at 14:46 of the first gave the Cyclones a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Ryan Nie was tested 32 times in the first two periods, 20 times alone in the second, and stood on his head to keep the Chiefs down by one goal after 40 minutes of play. Cincinnati's continuous pressure finally broke through in the third with goals fifteen seconds apart by Matt Syroczynski (1st, 11:11) and Billy Irish-Baker (1st, 11:26). Andrew Martens crashed the net for a loose puck and jammed it home for his first of the playoffs to cut Cincinnati's lead to two with 5:10 left to play. But the Chiefs couldn't score with the extra attacker on, and Aubin added an empty net goal with two seconds remaining to seal the win.

Another One Bites the Dust:

Ryan Nie set a team record earlier this season with his 29th, and final, win of the regular season against Wheeling on April 4. Ryan Garlock one-upped his teammate, though, by setting a new ECHL record for the fastest goal to begin a playoff game. Garlock's marker at 11 seconds of the first period against Dayton on April 8 was one second quicker than the one scored by Dan Wiebe of Toledo against Wheeling in Game 4 of their series in 1993. Randy Rowe also has his name on the list of the top five quickest goals on there twice. His goal 39 seconds into Game 1 against Dayton is the third fastest in the league's playoff history, and the 40 second goal in Game 1 against Cincinnati is the fourth fastest. Rounding out the list is Scott Mifsud of Gwinnett who scored 42 seconds into Game 3 of the Gladiators' 2006 series against Alaska.



ECHL Stories from April 14, 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.

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