Elmira too much for Bombers, win 7-2

March 29, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


Dayton, OH- Beginning the final regular season series against North division rival Elmira Jackals only one point away from their second strait playoff appearance, the Bombers would struggle against the Jackals in a tough 7-2 loss in front of 5,749 inside the Nutter Center on Saturday night.

Fresh from a tough loss to Cincinnati on Friday night, Elmira showed up in the opening period with something to prove. Right from the opening face-off, Bombers goaltender Rejean Beauchemin had his hands full, turning aside a quick series of shots. The Jackals ensured the period wouldn't be scoreless courtesy of Matt Johnson's 6th goal of the season just 6:00 in to take the lead 1-0. Dayton caught up in the middle parts of the period, evening the shot total thanks to a power play, but were unable get past Elmira netminder Ervins Mustukovs. Elmira again turned it up a notch, scoring a power play goal at the 17:46 mark to take a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes. First period shots favored Elmira 15-9.

The second period began much the same way as the first, with a rush of Elmira Offense, led by Jackals leading scorer Benoit Doucet scoring his 30th goal of the season just 2:11 in for the second power play goal of the night. As the period wore on, Dayton again found chances in front of the Elmira net, but were again denied by Mustukovs to remain scoreless. The Bombers earned their best chance of the game just past the halfway point of the period, but were quickly burned by a 2-on-0 breakout through center ice for Elmira's fourth goal of the night. The goal, scored by Jim McKenzie at the 13:21 mark, led the Jackals into the dressing room after forty minutes ahead 4-0. Shots on goal in the second were an even 11-11.

Dayton showed some teeth in the early stages of the third period, as Brad Bonello notched his team-leading 16th goal of the season just 1:09 in. The goal, assisted by Petr Pohl and Jim Henkemeyer, closed the Jackals lead to 3. Showing promise to get back into the game, Bombers captain Greg Labenski sent home a shot for his 4th goal of the season assisted by Scott Kelman and Masahito Nishiwaki making it 4-2 at the 2:56 mark. Despite their efforts, Elmira once again moved the game just out of reach with a series of three unanswered goals to close out regulation (Faubert at 3:15, Scott at 7:11 and Doucet's second of the night at 13:05) for a final score of 7-2 Elmira. Shots in the third again favored the Jackals 13-5 for a game total of 39-25.

Dayton's record now stands at 28-29-5-6 for 67 and remains in fifth place in the North Division. Elmira, currently in second place in the North division, now boasts a record of 39-22-3-4. Both teams will rematch on Nutter Center ice on Sunday at 5pm, with Dayton still just one point away from clinching their second consecutive Kelly Cup playoff appearance.

Tickets are still available for Sunday's game by calling the Bombers at 775-4747, and fans can tune into the game's broadcast online at echl.com and daytonbombers.com, and can watch the live telecast at b2livetv.com with Bombers broadcaster JT Szabo on the call.



ECHL Stories from March 29, 2008


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