Weekly Arrowhead

Published on March 8, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, Pa. - Battling through an injury-depleted lineup and four games in five days the Johnstown Chiefs were able to pick up three standings points for reaching overtime last week. With a few days to recouperate this week the team will prepare for a pair of weekend against its two biggest rivals.

Record: 15-35-11, 41 pts., 4th place East Division,

Leaders:

Goals - Connor Shields: 25

Chanse Fitzpatrick (total): 26

Assists - Troy Schwab: 30

Points - Connor Shields: 53

Chanse Fitzpatrick (total): 54

+/- - Jeff Martens: +7

PIMs - Trevor Hendrikx: 164

PPG - Connor Shields/Jim McKenzie: 8

SHG - Sean Berkstresser: 2

Wins - Kris Mayotte: 7

GAA - John Murray: 3.93

SVP - Kris Mayotte:.888

This Week:

3/12 vs. Reading, 7:05 p.m. - Home (3-1-0), Away (1-4-0)

The Royals have not payed the Chiefs a visit in nearly three months, but will return to Johnstown this Friday. Reading's last visit on December 16 ended an exceptional stretch of play by the Chiefs against Reading on their home ice. The Royals were able to pick up a 7-3 win which snapped a 10-game losing streak at the War Memorial. Prior to that, the Chiefs hadn't lost to the Royals at home since January 27, 2008. But now it's the Royals holding court in the Keystone State rivalry as they have won three straight against the Chiefs. Scores of 4-3 (February 28) and 6-4 (March 6) went Reading's favor and dropped the Chiefs' season record against the Royals to 4-5-0. The season series had not been in Reading's favor since prior to the November 25 game in Johnstown. The games between the teams here in Johnstown this season have been typically high scoring. Johnstown is averaging six goals in its three wins against Reading at the War Memorial as opposed to Reading which posted seven on December 16.

3/13 vs. Wheeling, 7:05 p.m. - Home (1-0-2), Away (3-2-1)

Saturday night will be the final chapter of the season series between the Chiefs and Nailers, and if it follows the previous script it should be a dramatic contest. Two of the three games in Johnstown, and six out of nine overall, have gone to overtime or a shootout. The Chiefs have won each of the last two in Wheeling by a 4-3 count. Chanse Fitzpatrick has been the major thorn in the Nailers' side with the overtime winner on January 16 and the shootout winner on February 9. Even though it has been over three months, the Chiefs won their most recent home game against the Nailers with a 4-2 win back on December 4. A win by the Chiefs in regulation would tie the season series leaving each team with 13 points.

Day by Day:

Mon. 3/8: Off

Tues. 3/9: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Wed. 3/10: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Thurs. 3/11: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Fri. 3/12: Chiefs vs. Reading Royals, 7:05 p.m.

Sat. 3/13: Chiefs vs. Wheeling Nailers, 7:05 p.m.

Sun. 3/14: Off

Broadcast Schedule:

Fri. 3/12: Chiefs vs. Reading Royals, 7:05 p.m. - radio and internet

Sat. 3/13: Chiefs vs. Wheeling Nailers, 7:05 p.m. - internet only

All Chiefs radio broadcasts can be heard on 1490 AM WNTJ and AM 990 WNTW, and live streaming audio of every Chiefs game is available courtesy of B2 Networks at www.johnstownchiefs.com or www.echl.com. All game broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to faceoff with the Chiefs Pregame Show presented by UPMC.

Last Week: (0-1-3)

3/3 vs. Kalamazoo: L 4-5 SO

The Chiefs' final home game of the season against Kalamazoo was a near repeat of their first back in January. First period goals by Trevor Hendrikx and Troy Schwab opened up a 2-0 lead, but Sam Ftorek's shorthanded tally brought the Wings within one at the intermission. Another shorthanded score, near the midway point of the second period, by Brian McGuirk evened the score at two. Chanse Fitzpatrick responded for the Chiefs by rattling home his 25th goal of the season on the power play, and Johnstown retook the lead. However, only 30 seconds later Mathieu Curadeau twisted a shot past Kris Mayotte to tie the game at three. It remained that way until 9:53 of the third when a centering pass by Ftorek bounced off of Brian Kaufman's skate and into the cage. To send the game to overtime, the Chiefs needed a power play goal by Hendrikx at 11:58. It was his second of the night and fifth of the season. The Chiefs fought off a late delay of game minor to Mike Couch and managed four shots in overtime. Since none were able to beat Ryan Nie the game shifted to a shootout. Nie outdueld Mayotte four saves to three, Ftorek picked up the shootout winner, and Kalamazoo earned the extra point. Connor Shields turned in the big performance for Johnstown with four assists on the night.

3/5 at Elmira: L 4-5 OT

The Chiefs gave the East Division leaders everything they could handle last Friday, but a three-point (1G, 2A) effort from R.J. Anderson kept Johnstown from picking up the win. After Elmira led 2-0 at the end of the first Johnstown rattled off three goals in the span of 2:02 and tied the game at three. Sean Berkstresser, Trevor Hendrikx, and Connor Shields all contributed to the Chiefs' furious rally. Before the period expired Anderson put Elmira ahead 4-3 with his 10th goal of the season. The wrister beat John Murray just inside the glove-side post. The Chiefs managed to pot the only goal of the third period as, for the second time against his old team, former Jackal Chanse Fitzpatrick tied it in the waning minutes. Anderson had a big say in how the game played out in overtime. Just under two minutes in he fired a wrist shot from the center point that was tipped in by Olivier Proulx. It was Johnstown's fourth overtime loss of the season to Elmira.

3/6 at Reading: L 4-6

Sean Berkstresser's first three-point game of his career provided a big spark to the Chiefs' offense, but the Royals' attack was able to keep pace and then some. Stefano Giliati (2G, 2A) and Olivier Labelle (2G, 1A) had big nights while Andrew Sarauer nothched the game's first goal 1:42 in and Kyle Laughlin scored his first as a pro. In his second start of the week, and second overall since February 12, Kris Mayotte turned in a 27-save performance while the Royals were able to score an empty net with 13 seconds left to play. The Chiefs faced their biggest deficit, 3-1, late in the first period thanks to Laughlin's score with 2:40 left in the frame. Berkstresser came through, though, with 42 left to go and brought the Chiefs back within one, and then scored the tying goal 2:51 into the second. That was as close as the Chiefs got, though, as Labelle and Giliati potted the next two goals. Jeff Martens earned his first multi-point game as a Chief with a goal at 1:43 of the third to go along with an assist on Berkstresser's first goal.

3/7 vs. Elmira: L 4-5 OT

In a week filled with hard-to-swallow losses Sunday afternoon's was certainly the toughest. Holding a 4-3 lead with less than a minute to play, the Chiefs won a defensive zone faceoff only to have the puck bounce off the side of the goal to the stick of Chris Korchinski. The Jackals forward centered the puck to Justin Donati who lifted the puck past a prone John Murray for the tying score. Brennan Turner's fifth goal of the season 46 seconds into the extra frame gave Elmira the game winner and its third overtime win in Johnstown this season. Sean Berkstresser continued his torrid pace with two points (1G, 1A) as did Connor Shields with two assists. Troy Schwab also picked up a multi-point game (1G, 1A) and scored his first pro shorthanded goal; a goal that gave the Chiefs a 4-3 lead five minutes into the third period.

CHIEFS CHOPS:

Scoring Streaks:

Goals: - S. Berkstresser, 3 gms (4G); 3/5-3/7

Assists: - M. Knight, 2 gms (2A); 11/7-11/11

- C. Fitzpatrick, 4 gms (4A); 3/3-3/7

- J. Martens, 2 gms (2A); 3/6-3/7

Points: - M. Knight, 2 gms (2A); 11/7-11/11

- C. Fitzpatrick, 4 gms (2G, 4A); 3/3-3/7

- S. Berkstresser, 3 gms (4G, 2A); 3/5-3/7

- J. Martens, 2 gms (2A); 3/6-3/7

Quick Hits:

- Connor Shields' four assists on March 3 vs. Kalamazoo set a career high for the rookie and a season high for the team.

- Sean Berkstresser's three-game goal streak is the longest of his career.

- Johnstown's seven overtime losses are the most in the ECHL. The Chiefs are tied with South Carolina at 11 for the most losses combined between overtime and shootouts.

- Johnstown has used 15 skaters or less in each of its last nine games (1-5-3).

- Chiefs are 5-for-10 on the power play in their last two home games.

Mark Your calendars! Don't forget about these upcoming home games:

- Friday, March 12 vs. Reading - 7:05 p.m. o UPMC ball cap giveaway. Caps will be given to the first 1,000 fans through the door so get here early!

- Saturday, March 13 vs. Wheeling - 7:05 p.m. o Subway's "We Win, You Win." If the Chiefs take down the Nailers everyone in attendance takes home a coupon good for a free six-inch Subway sub.

- Friday, March 26 vs. Toledo - 7:05 p.m.

o U.S. Marines Specialty Jersy auction. Bid on your favorite Chiefs' jersey on this night and if you place the winning bid you take home the game worn jersey.

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