Johnstown, Pa. – The Johnstown Chiefs lost Friday 5-1 to the South Carolina Sting Rays at the Cambria County War Memorial.
Despite playing with only 15 skaters Johnstown was able to outshoot South Carolina 46-31, but the Chiefs couldn’t solve Sting Rays goaltender Braden Holtby who made 45 saves in the win. Johnstown right wing Moises Guterriez and defenesmen Trevor Hendrikx and Mike Knight were unavailable due to injuries, and right wing Jim McKenzie was recalled to Lake Erie of the American Hockey League (AHL).
South Carolina wasted no time, taking the lead at :50 of the first period on a goal by Nikita Kashirsky. Sting Rays forward Keith Johnson picked up a dump in by South Carolina’s Zach Tarkir but was unable to get a shot away as the puck rolled off his stick. Kashirsky found the loose puck and beat Johnstown goaltender Shane Connelly for his 11th goal of the season. Johnson and Tarkir assisted.
Johnstown had the momentum through most of the first period, but it was the Sting Rays that were able to capitalize on its opportunities with a second goal at 13:20 for the 2-0 lead. Taking a pass from Gregg Johnson, rookie Jake Hauswirth managed to overcome a hook by Chiefs defenseman Greg Gallagher and beat Connelly for his second of the season. Johnson and Matt Fornataro assisted.
The Chiefs made a change in goal to start the second period, replacing Connelly with Kris Mayotte. Mayotte, who won his previous two starts, held the Sting Rays at bay through the first half of the period before South Carolina took a commanding lead on a goal by defenseman Dylan Yeo. After making the lead pass from his own defensive end, Yeo joined the rush, took a pass from Fornataro in the slot and shot a back-hander past Mayotte for his third of the season at 11:17. The Sting Rays controlled the remainder of the period and finished with the 3-0 lead.
Johnstown took advantage of an early penalty to South Carolina’s Tarkir for delay of game, cutting the Sting Rays lead to 3-1 at 2:29 on a goal by Sean Berkstresser. Chiefs defenseman Mike Couch took a slap shot from the point, which Berkstresser redirected over the head of Holtby for his second goal of the season. Couch and Connor Shields assisted.
The Chiefs continued to press the attack, but two quick goals by the Sting Rays stymied any late-game surge by Johnstown and put South Carolina on top 5-1. Rob Ricci recorded his seventh of the season with a power-play goal at 11:22, assisted by Johnson and Tarkir, and Fornataro added his seventh of the season on a back-hander just :39 seconds later to beat Mayotte and close out the scoring. Dain Prewitt and Hauswirth assisted.
The loss dropped Johnstown to 5-9-3-0 on the season, while South Carolina won its third consecutive game and improved to 11-6-1-3 overall.
The Chiefs continue their Thanksgiving weekend home stand, hosting the Royals Saturday at the Cambria County War Memorial before traveling Sunday to Reading.
Scoring:
Team: 1st 2nd 3rd Total
South Carolina: 2 1 2 5
Johnstown: 0 0 1 1
Shots:
Team: 1st 2nd 3rd Total
South Carolina: 8 9 14 38
Johnstown: 12 17 17 46
Power Play:
South Carolina: 1-for-2
Johnstown: 1-for-5
Three Stars:
1. South Carolina – Matt Fornataro
2. South Carolina – Braden Holtby
3. South Carolina – Jake Hauswirth
Notes:
Chase Watson made his debut for Johnstown after being signed earlier Friday to replace Jim McKenzie. McKenzie, who has 12 points (5G, 7A) for the Chiefs this season, has been loaned to Lake Erie of the AHL. Watson tried out with the Wheeling Nailers but was cut prior to the beginning of the season.
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