Published: March 04, 2009 11:51 pm      

Returnees help the Chiefs down division rivals

The Johnstown Chiefs welcomed back four players on Wednesday night at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

The homecoming was a hit among 2,426 fans who watched the Chiefs defeat rival Wheeling 5-3 in the tight North Division.

“Me and Andy Contois have been best of buddies the last month or so just training and trying to get back in shape to come back,” said Chiefs defenseman Mike Knight, who had a goal and two assists.

“Contois got hurt the day after I got hurt so we were on the same timeframe. We were excited to get back. The first period I felt a little antsy. I settled down and let the game come to me. Good things happened. (Goalie) Kris Mayotte came back and stood on his head. (Defenseman Jon) Landry played very solid for us. Everyone as a team stepped up and played well.”

The Chiefs closed within two points of idle Cincinnati. The Cyclones (69 points) lead Johnstown (67), Elmira (67) and Wheeling (65).

Wheeling took an early 2-0 advantage on goals by Bo Cheesman at 5:52 and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Luca Caputi four minutes later. Caputi, a fourth-round draft pick rated by The Hockey News as the organization’s top prospect and 70th overall in the NHL, had been assigned to Wheeling on Wednesday.

“It’s always tough after a long road trip, especially being on the bus for

25 hours coming back,” Chiefs coach Ian Herbers said of a 1,200-mile nearly week-long, 0-3 trek to Florida.

“It’s just that sharpness you miss. That even happens with NHL teams. We got that first goal to make it 2-1 going into the first intermission, which was huge. We were able to roll through the second and third and play our game. We’ve got some depth now and some speed going.”

The Chiefs Jarrett Konkle scored a rebound goal with 2:08 left in the opening period. Andrew Sarauer took the initial shot.

Johnstown netted three goals in the second period to lead 4-2.

“It was easy to shake it off because I knew my team was playing well,” said Mayotte, who won his 19th game.

“I knew the team was going to respond. Konkle got a goal by the end of the first period so we could come back with confidence. We just went from there.”

Petr Pohl scored his team-best 26th of the season just 48 seconds into the second after Alex Penner chipped the puck off the neutral-zone boards, setting up a breakaway.

In his first game since Jan. 17, Knight knocked in a Pohl rebound at 6:09.

Chiefs forward Todd Griffith lifted a backhander over David Brown’s glove shoulder with 2:30 remaining in the period.

John Mazzei’s shot from the high slot beat Mayotte at 12:32 of the third to pull the Nailers within one. But Contois hit the empty net in his first game since Jan. 16 after assists by Sarauer and Knight.

“It’s good to set the tone,” Mayotte said.

“It’s only one game out of three. Obviously we want six points. We played a physical game and didn’t give them anything easy.”