Published: March 21, 2009 11:43 pm      

Chiefs rally for victory in OT

ELMIRA, N.Y. — The Johnstown Chiefs converted on three of their

16 power-play opportunities to earn an important comeback victory at Elmira on Saturday night.

Ryan Garlock scored with the man-advantage 42 seconds into overtime as the Chiefs beat the Jackals 5-4 for their second straight win at First Arena in as many nights. Johnstown had trailed 4-1 at 1:03 of the second period before mounting a comeback helped by the Chiefs’ ability to capitalize on one Elmira penalty after another. Some of the Jackals’ penalty trouble was self-inflicted with the hosts taking two unsportsmanlike calls in the opening period and four delay of game penalties after sending the puck over the glass.

The Chiefs (76 points) are tied with Wheeling for second place in the tight North Division. Cincinnati (77) beat Trenton 2-1 on Saturday and holds first.

Elmira (75) is fourth, and Trenton (74) is fifth. The Chiefs and Jackals close a three-game set this afternoon at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

“We were using our speed. We were playing 10 forwards and six defensemen and we were drawing the penalties,” Chiefs coach Ian Herbers said. “We were forcing them and creating pressure. They shot the puck over the glass. We didn’t capitalize in the first couple periods. We let them get the momentum in the first period. We slowly clawed back.”

Bear Trapp converted on a power play at 11:44 of the opening period for his first goal with the Jackals in his first game. Johnstown’s Andrew Sarauer answered a minute later. Sean Berkstresser assisted.

The Chiefs misfired on their first

5-on-3 opportunity of the game, and Elmira’s Paul McIlveen scored a rare two-man disadvantage, short-handed goal at 14:54. Trapp converted a second power play by bouncing a shot off Johnstown defenseman Trevor Hendrikx’s leg and past Ian Keserich with 19 seconds left in the first period.

“They scored the first goal of the game again, but we came out the next shift or a shift shortly after and scored again,” Herbers said. “When we were down 3-1 at the first intermission we knew we didn’t play a great period and our power play had cost us a lead.”

The Jackals’ Nathan Lutz scored 1:03 into the second to give the Jackals a 4-1 advantage.

“We gave up an early goal in the second,” Herbers said. “The guys didn’t give up. They kept working. That’s all you can do when you’re in a hole. The key is you’ve got to get everybody to buy into doing it.”

The Chiefs had two more lengthy

5-on-3 power play chances in the second, but Elmira goaltender Michael Teslak turned away 16 of 17 second-period shots. Teslak was impressive while stopping 42 shots in the game.

Johnstown finally converted on a power play as Toby LaFrance one-timed a pass from Ryan Del Monte at 9:44 of the second. Sarauer also assisted on the Chiefs’ first power-play goal at Elmira in 33 chances this season.

Mike Knight’s power-play tally 1:41 into the third tied the game at 4-all after an assist by Petr Pohl. Garlock’s OT game-winner set the stage for today.