After loss to Yellow Jackets, Jokers defeat Chiefs to end season

The Jokers bounced back quickly after a tough loss to the Yellow Jackets on Tuesday by defeating the Charleston Chiefs 4-2 on Friday night. In Tuesday’s contest, the Jokers fought their way back to tie the game at three early in the third period but surrendered a trio of goals and lost 6-3. Things started much more promisingly though on Friday night. The game was the last of the season for both teams and final playoff seeding hinging on the outcome. The winner of this game would take second place and face Dreshperados and the loser would fall to fourth place and face the top seeded Hurricanes in the other semi-final game.

Right-winger Jimmy Dowd chased a Chiefs defender behind the net to create a turnover and found center Josh Berrelli speeding towards the net. Berrelli didn’t waste any time and flicked a shot past the diving goalie to give the Jokers a 1-0 lead only 45 seconds into the game. On the other end of the rink, Joker goalie Tim Fisher was his usual steady self making stop after stop on tough shots from every angle.  The Chiefs would get a break early in the second period though when a clearing attempt was inadvertently deflected into the net, tying the game at 1.

The Jokers offense though wouldn’t let up and continued to put pressure on the Chiefs defense. Right-winger John DeLuca was relentless in the corners and found defenseman Ray Glowicki alone at the point. Glowicki one-timed a slapshot through traffic and over the goalies shoulder to give the Jokers a second-period lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Ken Herren and Jim Brunetti each scored in the period to make the score 4-1. A pair of penalties to defenseman Rich Orsini in the third period and speedy Shaun Frobey took advantage on the Chiefs’ second power play to narrow the gap to 4-2. Fisher would continue to stand tall though, finishing the game with 25 saves on 27 shots in earning the win.