The Johnstown Chiefs debuted their new fan-interactive “We Score, You Score” promotion on Friday night, anticipating game-long drama as members of the crowd took turns guessing which Chief would score the next goal.
The front office envisioned as many as eight fans taking their guesses during stoppages in play at Cambria County War Memorial Arena. A correct match meant discounted tickets and merchandise for all those in attendance.
The concept was intriguing, but Johnstown’s Petr Pohl made sure the “We Score, You Score” gig lasted a mere 3 minutes, 49 seconds.
Pohl netted the first of his three goals only minutes after fan Mark Frailey projected Pohl as the next goal-scorer. Pohl’s hat trick and two goals by Jarrett Konkle combined with goalie Kris Mayotte’s 28-save effort as the Chiefs beat the Mississippi Sea Wolves 5-2.
“Picking Petr Pohl to score the next goal, that’s a pretty safe bet,” Chiefs coach Ian Herbers said after Johnstown closed within two points of first-place Wheeling.
Pohl has five goals and six points in the two games since Todd Griffith joined Pohl’s line with Blair Yaworski.
Pohl beat Ryan Munce from the left-wing circle after a cross-ice pass from Griffith to make it 1-0.
“It was just a 2-on-1,” Pohl said. “I got a nice pass from Griffith, and it was a good play by Yaworski before that. I just got an empty net and the goalie didn’t have time to move the other way.”
Pohl converted on a power play at 10:51 after exchanging passes with Yaworski.
Mike Bartlett had the first of his three assists.
“It was a little bit of give-and-go,” Pohl said. “Everybody helped. They screened the goalie. I was just the guy in the right place.”
Mississippi’s Alexandre Parent and Jason Tejchma scored goals to tie the game 1:21 into the second. But Pohl completed the hat trick with a 5-on-3 power-play tally at 5:10, and Konkle scored as he was being dragged down in front of the cage 10 minutes later.
Konkle’s goal 5:54 into the third provided a three-goal cushion. Ryan Del Monte set up both Konkle goals.
“We put the Griffith, Yaworski, Pohl line together just before this week started,” Herbers said. “They worked well together and they’re creating some chemistry and some energy. It was important for the Konkle and Del Monte line to get into the offense. We can’t rely on just one line. We need to spread out our scoring with our second and third lines contributing as well.”
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