Published: October 10, 2008 11:51 pm            

Chiefs open with loss in overtime

WHEELING, W.Va. — The Johnstown Chiefs fell 4-3 to the Wheeling Nailers in their exhibition opener on Friday night at WesBanco Arena.

Johnstown started fast, drawing two penalties at the onset of the first period, and had a two-man advantage for 1:54. The Chiefs didn’t convert the two-man advantage, but with one second remaining in the 5-on-4 power play Domenic Maiani pushed a loose puck past Curtis Darling’s left leg. Andrew Sarauer got an assist by taking the initial shot while Joey Olson got the secondary assist.

Johnstown went up by two goals on a slap shot by newcomer Mark McCutcheon.

McCutcheon, who was reassigned to Johnstown from Lake Erie by Colorado on Thursday, was sprung through center on a pass by Ryan Del Monte, then ripped a slap shot by Darling’s blocker for the 2-0 lead after the first period.

In the second period the Chiefs and Nailers traded power-play goals.

Rob Sirianni put Wheeling on the board when his centering pass from the left wing hit a leg in front and skipped past Chiefs starter Kris Mayotte. The goal came with one second remaining on a cross-checking minor to Mike Bartlett.

Chiefs defenseman Mike Knight tallied the Chiefs’ second power-play goal to make it 3-1.

His slap shot from the left point skittered along the ice and beat Darling past his left leg. Clinton Pettapiece and Kyle Bushee added assists on the goal.

The Nailers added third-period goals by David Krantz and Jordan Morrison, forcing overtime.

Jon Landry’s hooking minor gave the Nailers a 4-on-3 advantage. Jon Grecu took a pass in the high slot, fired off a wrist shot, and with a lot of traffic in front was able to get it through Mayotte’s five hole.

Johnstown finished 2-for-7 on the power play while Mayotte made 29 saves on 33 shots.

        

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