Weekly Arrowhead

Published on March 29, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


This Week:

3/31 vs. Toledo, 7:05 p.m. - Home (1-3-0), Away (0-2-1)

After dropping six in a row to the expansion Walleye the Chiefs will have an opportunity to finish the season series with a two-game win streak. They took down the Walleye in their most recent meeting in Johnstown by a 7-4 score. The win was made more impressive because the Chiefs scored five unanswered goals in the third to rally back from a 4-2 deficit. The Walleye enter the week tied with Reading for seventh in the American Conference and remain three points ahead of ninth-place Trenton. Another win by the Chiefs in Johnstown would put a huge dent in Toledo's playoff hopes as they'll play a pair of games in Kalamazoo to finish their season. After raising his season total to 10 points (4G, 6A) in six games against the Walleye last Friday, Dan Collins will look to continue his dominance of the Chiefs' North Division foes.

4/2 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. - Home (1-5-0), Away (2-2-0)

Despite sitting in fifth in the American Conference, Cincinnati leads the circuit with 42 victories. Friday night's game will go a long way to determining if Cincinnati can ascend to the top of the North Division again or if Kalamazoo will finally wrench the crown away from the Cyclones. The Chiefs had success at U.S. Bank Arena early on in the season series with Cincinnati and won in each of its first two trips there. The last two trips have not been so kind, however, and the Cyclones have outscored the Chiefs 12-2 and not trailed in either game. The Chiefs have not won the season series at U.S. Bank Arena since going 2-1-2 there during the 2006-07 season.

4/3 vs. Elmira, 7:05 p.m. - Home (0-1-3), Away (0-3-2)

The Chiefs have held a lead in every home game against the Jackals this season, but have only three points from overtime and/or shootout losses to show for the effort. Two different times (October 24 and March 7) Elmira was able to tie the game with less than a minute to play before coming away with the win in overtime, and on December 11 they rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the third to win in a shootout. This Saturday will be the final chance for the Chiefs to salvage a win in the season series with the Jackals. Elmira shored up its place atop the East Division with a 4-0 win the last time the teams met on March 21 in Elmira.

Day by Day:

Mon. 3/29: Off

Tues. 3/30: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Wed. 3/31: Chiefs vs. Toledo Walleye, 7:05 p.m.

Thurs. 4/1: Practice TBD, Travel Day

Fri. 4/2: Chiefs at Cincinnati Cyclones, 7:30 p.m.

Sat. 4/3: Chiefs vs. Elmira Jackals, 7:05 p.m.

Broadcast Schedule:

Wed. 3/31: Chiefs vs. Toledo Walleye. 7:05 p.m. - radio and internet

Fri. 4/2: Chiefs at Cincinnati Cyclones, 7:30 p.m. - radio and internet

Sat. 4/3: Chiefs vs. Elmira Jackals, 7:05 p.m. - radio and internet

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: (1-2-0)

3/24 at Trenton: L 3-4

The Chiefs were looking to finish off their four-game road trip on a high note with a win in their last visit to Trenton. After a scoreless first, the Devils got the jump on the Chiefs 6:10 into the second on a Ryan Ginand stuff-in goal. Johnstown got the tying goal from Chanse Fitzpatrick 2:41 later, but Jack Combs re-established Trenton's lead with a power play goal at 15:53 of the second. At that point of the season Johnstown had zero third period comebacks to its credit, but early on it looked like that was about to change. Sean Berkstresser scored a power play goal at 2:54 of the third to tie it and Bear Trapp's first goal as a Chief gave the visitors a 3-2 lead 4:45 into the final frame. Jim McKenzie set up both goals to earn a two-point night. Dave Leaderer battled back with the tying goal for Trenton, though, at 6:48 and Jeff Prough netted the eventual game winner on the power play just 1:51 later. Kris Mayotte made 38 saves in his first start after a three-game AHL stint with Adirondack.

3/26 vs. Toledo: W 7-4

Despite struggling on the road, the Chiefs' offense had been clicking at a high rate on home ice leading up to Friday's game. That continued in a big way thanks to a five-goal third period that gave the Chiefs a dramatic comeback win. Toledo built a 3-0 first period lead on the strength of two power play goals that eluded Kris Mayotte. Evan Rankin scored the Walleye's only even strength goal of the game at 17:13 of the first for their biggest lead of the night. Jeff Martens started to chip away at the lead with his sixth of the season 43 seconds after Rankin's score. Dan Collins, in his first game back since January 30, pulled the Chiefs within one on a shorthanded goal 6:26 into the second and set the stage for the third-period fireworks. Chris Robertson looked to have put the Walleye far enough ahead for the win when he sent home a power play goal 4:05 in, but no other puck ended up behind Mayotte. Chanse Fitzpatrick shrunk Toledo's lead back to one with a power play goal of his own at 6:01 while 11 seconds later Connor Shields tied the game on another power play score. The Chiefs were awarded a two-minute 5-on-3 power play as the result of a scrum at 4:59 of the third. Collins untied the game by tapping home a rebound from Sean Berkstresser at 8:08 and then Jim McKenzie and Fitzpatrick added empty-net goals to salt away the win. Mayotte posted 31 saves in picking up his ninth victory of the season.

3/28 vs. Cincinnati: L 2-3

After a rare Saturday off to rest and prepare for the Cyclones, the Chiefs didn't come out with quite the jump they needed and fell behind 1-0 on a Matt Pierce power play goal 7:44 in. Cincinnati limited the Chiefs to just 3 shots while sending 10 Kris Mayotte's way. In the second period Johnstown matched the Cyclones' nine shots and scored twice to tie the game heading into the third. Ryan Del Monte's 10th of the season was sandwiched between Connor Shields jamming home a Troy Schwab rebound and Dan Collins lazering in a one-timer during a 5-on-3 power play. Cincinnati was in penalty trouble for much of the early portion of the third and Johnstown ended up with another 5-on-3 that lasted 1:46. It looked like Chanse Fitzpatrick had put the Chiefs ahead with a shot that rattled off of the post and behind goalie Jeremy Smith with about 34 seconds left on the advantage. The goal light was turned on, but the goal waved off by the referree and the game remained tied. Then, with 9:35 left to play, Mark Van Guilder slid a rebound behind Mayotte for the game winning. goal. The Chiefs ended the season with a 1-5-0 mark against Cincinnati at home.

CHIEFS CHOPS:

Scoring Streaks:

Goals:

- C. Shields, 2 gms (2G); 3/26-3/28

Assists:

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

- T. Schwab, 2 gms (3A); 3/26-3/28

Points:

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

- C. Shields, 3 gms (2G, 2A); 3/24-3/28

- C. Fitzpatrick, 3 gms (3G, 1A); 3/24-3/28

Quick Hits:

- Dan Collins set a career high with four points (2G, 2A) on March 26 vs. Toledo.

- Johnstown has outscored its opponents 20-8 in its last three home wins.

- Chiefs have not won a road game since 4-3 shootout win in Wheeling on February 9.

- Connor Shields is eighth among ECHL rookies with 16 points (4G, 12A) in 14 games in the month of March.

- Chiefs are 11-for-41 (25 %) on the power play in their last seven home games.

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

- Wednesday, March 31 vs. Toledo - 7:05 p.m.

o Wendy's Wednesday Family Four Pack. For the final time this season you can purchase four tickets, hot dogs, drinks, and popcorn boxes for just $44!

- Saturday, April 3 vs. Elmira - 7:05 p.m.

o Fan Appreciation Day.

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ECHL Stories from March 29, 2010


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