Captain's penalty shot lifts Jackals to victory 4-1
November 24, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
ELMIRA, NY - Captain Frank Littlejohn's penalty shot goal 4:59 into the second period propelled the Elmira Jackals to a 4-1 win over Reading Saturday night in front of 3,483 fans at First Arena. The win was the fifth in a row and lifted the Jackals into sole possession of first place in the North Division.
Littlejohn's heroics were set up when he was slashed from behind on a breakaway chance down the left wing by Royals defenseman Mike Salekin. Referee Darcy Burchell immediately pointed to center ice in awarding the shot as Littlejohn went to the bench for medical attention off of the exchange.
Cutting in from the left circle, Littlejohn sent a wrister over the glove hand of Reading goaltender Jeff Petrasiak (25 saves) for his fifth of the year and a 2-1 lead. Littlejohn's goal came just forty-four seconds after Jim McKenzie tied the game with his second of the season.
A lazy dump by the Royals through the neutral zone was scooped up by Jon Landry and he fired a lead pass ahead to a breaking McKenzie. Bearing on Petrasiak, McKenzie snapped a backhander high into the net to tie the game at 1-1 at the 4:15 mark of the second period.
The Jackals found themselves in a 1-0 hole after twenty minutes courtesy of Rob Lalonde's shorthanded goal 8:24 into the game. But that would be all the Royals would get as Dan LaCosta stopped 33 shots in total for his fourth consecutive victory.
The second period comeback marked the first time in five tries that Elmira had overcome a deficit after one period to win a game this season.
Shawn Weller (his third of the year 19:14 of the 2nd) and Chaz Johnson (his third of the season at 3:50 of the 3rd) rounded out the scoring for the Jackals.
The win, combined with Cincinnati's 4-2 home loss to Dayton, gave the Jackals a two-point lead over the second place Cyclones and a meeting awaiting the two clubs Wednesday night in Ohio.
But before that, the Jackals host Columbia Sunday at 4:05 p.m. and visit Dayton Tuesday evening in a 7 p.m. face-off. Tomorrow's contest against the Inferno is a Bobby K Family Day with a post-game skate with the Jackals following the contest. It's also Guaranteed Win Night. If the Jackals lose, all fans in attendance will receive a free ticket to the December 5th game against the Trenton Devils.
Great seats remain for the game and can purchased on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 722-3711 and at the Gray Street box office - First Arena beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
Radio coverage of tomorrow's game begins on MAGIC FM (92.7/97.7) with the Hill Top Inn Countdown to Face-Off at 3:35 p.m. with the Voice of the Jackals, Grady Whittenburg.
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