Johnstown Chiefs Knock Off Reading Royals, 6-3

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -Johnstown, PA – The Johnstown Chiefs had much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Eve as they knocked off the Reading Royals by a score of 6-3 at the UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at the Cambria County War Memorial.

The Chiefs' win improved their record 5-8-3.

The Chiefs opened the scoring quickly with Mike Bartlett scoring on his first two shots against Reading starter Andrew Engelage. At 6:26 the second-year Chief sent a wrist shot from the slot high to the glove side, and on an almost identical play at 9:01 he slipped one five hole. Ryan Menei assisted on both goals while R.J. Anderson helped on the first. The Royals retaliated with two goals quickly from Daniel Steiner at 9:29 and Andrew Saraurer at 10:37 after Bartlett’s staked the Chiefs to the lead.

Unfazed by Reading's comeback attempt, the Chiefs added another pair of second period markers. Connor Shields netted his team-leading ninth of the season just 3:29 into the period. Chris Zarb hit Shields with a crisp pass at the Reading line and sent the rookie in on a breakaway. Shields got Engelage out of position with a deke to the backhand and lifted in his ninth of the season. Bartlett added an assist for his third point of the night. Jim McKenzie would extend the lead with a power play goal at 16:08. He slammed home a loose puck just before the net was dislodged and gave the Chiefs a power play goal for the eighth game in a row.

With the Chiefs leading at the start of the third period, the defense and goalie Kris Mayotte were able to hold the Reading attack at bay and allow for Anderson to add an insurance goal. With a delayed penalty forthcoming, Anderson slammed home a slap shot at 17:55 of the third period for his fourth goal in the last two games. Reading cut the lead back to two with an unassisted marker by Dinos Stamoulis at 18:15, but Jarrett Konkle's third goal of the season was scored on an empty net and set the final.

Mayotte took the win, his third of the season, with 27 saves while the Chiefs power play finished 1-for-5 and the penalty kill went 4-for-4.

Commissioner Bud Selig shaved drug suspensions of players and broke the rules of MLB. Will Manny Ramirez and three others do a year? What will happen to dozens of minor league players whose records, teams, and leagues are affected? Read the whole story at SZ ( www.mlnsports.com).