Weekly Arrowhead

February 4, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, PA - Drama was the word of the week last week as the Johnstown Chiefs involved themselves in two overtime shootouts after erasing third-period deficits on Saturday and Sunday. Friday's game nearly went to extra time, as well, but that comeback effort fell short. After seven games in their last 10 days, the Chiefs will get a small respite with only two games this weekend.

Record - 18-23-1-2, 39 pts., 6th place North Division

Leaders:

Goals - Jean Desrochers: 18

Assists - Randy Rowe: 21

Points - Randy Rowe: 37

+/- - Randy Rowe: +6

PIMs - Mike Sgroi: 115

PPG - Jean Desrochers: 9

Wins - Ryan Nie: 14

GAA - Ryan Nie: 3.24

SVP - Andrew Penner: .887

This Week:

2/8 vs. Elmira 7:05 p.m. (2-2-0-1)

Johnstown and Elmira will meet for the sixth of nine contests this season on Friday night. While the season series is just about dead-even, Elmira has gotten the better of the play at the War Memorial with two wins in two tries. Despite the struggles against Elmira at home, the Chiefs are 9-9-0-2 at the War Memorial, and 3-1-0-1 in their last five home games. On Friday, Waste Management will be sponsoring a stadium cup giveaway to the first 1,000 fans in attendance.

2/10 vs. Trenton 5:05 p.m. (4-1-0-0)

After a rare Saturday off (only three all season), the Chiefs will host the Trenton Devils on Sunday evening. The Devils will be playing their third road game in as many days come Sunday, and the Chiefs will welcome them with open arms. Johnstown is 2-0 against Trenton on home ice, outscoring the Devils by a combined 8-4 in those victories. The game could have big playoff implications, as well, as Johnstown enters the week one point behind Trenton for fifth place, and the two teams facing off three times in the next three weeks. The Chiefs will also be hosting a Bingo Night that night.

"Pow-Wow" Planner:

The brand-new Johnstown Chiefs talk-show, "The Pow-Wow", continues on February 7, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lower Works Restaurant and Pub at the Johnstown Brewing Company. This week's guests have yet to be confirmed, but as a hint, they both wear letters on the front of their jerseys. Also, be sure to listen to the last episode with Mike Sgroi and Mike Knight by clicking on the audio link under the "Fan Zone" section at the Chiefs' home page.

Day by Day:

Mon. 2/4: Off

Tues. 2/5: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Wed. 2/6: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Thurs. 2/7: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Fri. 2/8: Chiefs vs. Elmira Jackals, 7:05 p.m.

Sat. 2/9: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Sun. 2/10: Chiefs vs. Trenton Devils, 5:05 p.m.

Last Week: (1-2-0-1)

1/30 at Elmira: L 3-1

With victories in their last two trips to First Arena, the Chiefs were hoping to continue their success in Elmira. However, the Jackals built a two-goal lead after two periods of play on goals by Frank Littlejohn and Bobby Robins. Rob Drummond's shorthanded goal in the third provided a spark for Johnstown, but Littlejohn's second of the night, on the power play, snuffed it out just 29 seconds after Drummond scored.

2/1 at Reading: L 4-3

The Chiefs fell into a 4-1 hole in the first period at the Sovereign Center, and saw their comeback effort fall short. Turnovers lead to goals by Chris Blight and Patrick Jarrett in the first five minutes, and Reading never relinquished the lead. Three goals, two by Reading one by Johnstown, were scored in a 28-second span later in the first, the quickest three goals scored in a Chiefs game this year. Randy Rowe tallied in the second, and Ryan Garlock in the third, but the Royals' lead was too big to overcome.

2/2 vs. Dayton: W 2-1 SO

Saturday's match-up with the Dayton Bombers turned out to be one of the more entertaining games this season, although it didn't seem like it would be at the start. Through the first 40 minutes, neither team could score, but Dayton's Brad Bonello cashed in first 41 seconds into the third period. The score remained 1-0 until 54 seconds were left on the game clock, and Randy Rowe potted his 16th of the year to send it to overtime. With neither team able to score in OT, things moved to a shootout where the Chiefs fell behind 2-0. But goals by Jean Desrochers, and Ryan Garlock, and Ryan Nie's goaltending, set the stage for Mike Sgroi to win it in the seventh round.

2/3 vs. Elmira: L 3-2 SO

Third-period heroics were needed again for the Chiefs to earn a point last Sunday. This time they came in the form of Ryan Garlock and his two third-period scores. Garlock scored near-identical goals on feeds from the right wing by Rowe and Sgroi to force extra time. In overtime the Chiefs squandered a 4-on-3 power play and a chance at the extra point. In the shootout, Nie gave up goals to Pierre-Luc Faubert and Chaz Johnson while his counterpart, Joel Martin, denied each Johnstown shooter.

No Power in Johnstown:

When it comes to special teams play at the War Memorial, since the beginning of 2008, the penalty kill has reigned supreme. The Chiefs' power play continues to search for answers with only two power play goal on home ice after the start of January. The penalty kill, however, has been simply phenomenal. Visiting teams have yet to score a man-advantage goal against the Chiefs in their own building, going 0-for-17 in the new year. The PK units' efforts have been showing in the standings, too, as the Chiefs are 3-1-0-1 in their last five home games. Overall, in 2008, the Chiefs are 61-for-73 in killing off power plays (84 percent), including eight in a row, and have scored twice shorthanded.



ECHL Stories from February 4, 2008


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