ELMIRA, N.Y. — The Johnstown Chiefs dropped a back-and-forth affair in Elmira on Friday night by a score of 7-4.
A wild first period found Johnstown in the penalty box a bit too often and on the wrong side of a 3-0 score. The Chiefs earned the first power play of the game 38 seconds in, but Elmira netminder Michael Teslak turned aside both shots he faced. Then the Chiefs proceeded to take four penalties in the next eight minutes and Elmira converted on three of the four advantages.
Johnstown started the second period with 4:12 of power play time thanks to a late first-period boarding major taken by Chanse Fitzpatrick. The Chiefs were unable to convert, though, and Elmira used the momentum from the successful penalty kill and turned it into offense, with Chris Korchinski getting his first goal of the season.
But Johnstown stormed back with two even-strength goals to close the gap.
Dan Collins deflected a pass behind Teslak at 8:30 of the second for his first goal of the season. Matt Robinson added his first assist of the campaign as did Tyler Hirsch. Next up was Mike Bartlett with a redirect off of a shot by Greg Gallagher at 11:45. Kyle Bushee added the secondary helper.
Ryan Del Monte got a power play goal in the third period to draw Johnstown within one. Bartlett fed Jarrett Konkle on the left wing and his quick wrist shot left a great rebound opportunity. Del Monte was denied on his first try but the second one found its way across the goal line. But Elmira answered with a power play goal. This time Matt Lowry netted it at 16:47.
The Chiefs refused to quit until the final buzzer, though, and Ryan Menei beat Teslak to get Johnstown back within one with 31 seconds left. Elmira added empty net goals from Olivier Proulx and Tyler Donati in the final 30 seconds to ice the game.
Tonight’s game
Who: Jackals at Chiefs.
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
