Published: February 15, 2009 12:05 am      

Late power-play goal lifts Chiefs past Devils

At times on Saturday night, Ian Keserich felt as if he was under siege.

Not so much by a barrage of Trenton shots, but instead from the multiple bodies of Devils who made their way into the Johnstown Chiefs goaltender’s space – and face.

Keserich had the final say, though, as Toby LaFrance converted a power play that resulted from a Trenton goaltender interference penalty late in the third period of Johnstown’s dramatic 3-2 victory.

“It was obvious that they were coming at me,” said Keserich, Johnstown’s only roster goalie since Kris Mayotte joined Hershey in the AHL last week. “One guy actually grabbed me in a private area. That made me mad and that’s why we took a penalty there.

“But it kind of gives me confidence knowing that the only way they’re going to shake me is by coming at me like that.”

The Chiefs won their third straight game and opened a six-game homestand with back-to-back victories. Johnstown hosts rival Wheeling at 2:30 today.

“Trenton is a confident team right now,” Chiefs coach Ian Herbers said.

“The big thing for them is (goaltender Gerald) Coleman. He makes big saves and gives them an opportunity to jump into plays knowing that he’s back there for them.”

Each goaltender made his share of tough stops as the game remained scoreless for nearly 35 minutes.

Trenton’s Jeff Prough finally beat Keserich from in tight after Ryan Gunderson’s shot from the point through traffic at 14:49 of the second.

The Chiefs tied the game on Jarrett Konkle’s power-play tally at 16:28.

LaFrance had the initial shot, and Konkle put the rebound past former Chiefs netminder Coleman.

Johnstown took a lead with 33 seconds remaining in the middle period after the Chiefs successfully killed off a Devils power play.

Defenseman Kyle Bushee’s long pass from the defensive zone sprung Todd Griffith, who was exiting the penalty box at the opposite blue line. Griffith skated the left wing with Petr Pohl trailing on a 2-on-1.

Griffith’s initial shot caught Coleman’s pad, but Griffith managed to put a backhanded shot into the net as his momentum carried him to the puck.

“Our first couple goals were rebound goals,” Herbers said. “That’s what you have to do in this league, go to the net and bang away at loose pucks.”

Trenton’s David Leaderer tied the game at 11:15 of the third as the Devils crashed the net and had a horde of players working the slot.

LaFrance took a Konkle pass as he was skating through the slot and ripped a shot past Coleman with 1:50 left in the game, converting Johnstown’s second power play in five opportunities.

“I saw it and was just waiting,” LaFrance said. “Konkle made a great play. I got the puck right there in the slot and just took a shot at the net.”

The Chiefs slowed Trenton, which had won two straight and seven of 10. Johnstown moved into second place in the North.

“This is a huge win,” LaFrance said. “We’re in a battle for first place here.”

The Chiefs converted four of nine power-play opportunities in the two home wins and have killed off opponents’ past 13 power-play chances.

“Our penalty kill shut down a 22 percent power play and we ended up getting two power-play goals,” Herbers said, noting Trenton had the league’s second-best power-play percentage. “At this time of the year, that’s huge.”