Fury Third Period Onslaught Stuns Jackals 6-4
January 29, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Elmira Jackals News Release
Muskegon, MI - The Elmira Jackals had a 3-goal lead with less than 10 minutes to play in the game, but lost 6-4 to the Muskegon Fury Sunday afternoon at L.C. Walker Arena.
After recording a huge victory in Kalamazoo on Friday night the Jackals seemed determined to salvage a road trip that started off poorly by handing the Muskegon Fury their 9th loss of the season. 50 seconds into the contest Muskegon's Philippe Plante was called for interference and that set up a Brent Cullaton unassisted power play goal at 1:49 giving the Jackals an early lead. Cullaton raised the bar at 9:02 when he took a long pass from David Morelli, skated in on goaltender Clayton Pool and weaved from forehand to backhand and slotted the puck past Pool for his 2nd goal of the game and 14th of the season.
Elmira took a blow when defenseman Chris Mann took a slap shot off his helmet as he attempted to block a shot on the penalty kill, forcing Mann to leave the game. But shortly after that penalty expired defenseman R.C. Lyke made it 3-0 Elmira when he snapped a wrist shot up over the blocker of Pool at 19:48, for his first goal of the season, assisted by Frank Littlejohn.
In the second period, Muskegon's Adam Smyth tipped in a Mike Watt shot for a power play goal at 8:30, putting the Fury on the board. But the Jackals responded with a David Morelli goal, assisted by Cullaton and Dale Lupul at 12:27, his 14th goal of the season. Muskegon out-shot the Jackals 18-8 in the second period but the Jackals held a 4-1 lead.
The Jackals came into the third period looking as though they were going to hand Muskegon their 2nd loss in a row for only the first time this year, but there was no way of predicting the outcome of the final 10 minutes. Todd Robinson scored a 4-on-3 power play goal at 11:45, igniting a tumultuous goal scoring rage. Twelve seconds later Mike Watt picked up a turnover in the Elmira defensive zone and found himself all along with goaltender Dave Lemanowicz. Watt ripped a wrist shot up into the top corner at 11:57 to pull the Fury back within one goal. Watt then scored his second of the game at 12:43, another power play goal, tying the game at 4-4 and within the blink of an eye, 57 seconds; Muskegon had erased a 3-goal Elmira lead.
Still reeling the Jackals tried to pull themselves together after being shell shocked by the 1st place Fury, but Todd Robinson scored his 2nd of the game at 17:03, giving Muskegon their first lead of the game. Elmira pulled Lemanowicz for the final 90 seconds looking for a late equalizer, but instead Watt completed his third period hat trick with an empty net goal at 19:47, capping off an incredible 5-goal third period by the Fury.
Clayton Pool earned the comeback win in goal for Muskegon, stopping 28-of-32 shots as the Fury improved to 38-8-1 on the year. Dave Lemanowicz made 39 saves on 44 shots, as Elmira dropped to 20-24-1 this season. Muskegon finished the game 3-for-7 on the power play, Elmira was 1-for-7, 0-for-6 after scoring on their first advantage of the game.
Next up for the Jackals is another two-week home stand as they begin 5 games in a row at First Arena on Wednesday January 31st as they host the Port Huron Flags for a 7:05 pm face off.
JACKALS COACH'S SHOW
Don't miss the Jackals Coach's Show on Monday, January 29th broadcast live from the Pioneer Sports Bar & Grill on South Main Street in Downtown Elmira. Join Voice of the Jackals Owen Newkirk, Jackals Head Coach Robbie Nichols, along with rookie defenseman Rob Chappell and forward Yevgeny Lazarev from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on News Talk 1230 & 1450 AM WENY.
FIRST ARENA REC RINK
The ice is HOT at First Arena - Visit our website for a complete list of Public Skating times and Arena Programs at www.firstarena.com - Come in to the COOL place to be!
The First Arena Rec Rink offers public skating, skating lessons, hockey programs, figure skating, birthday parties, and much more....
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from January 29, 2007
- Generals and Komets continue streaks - IHL 2
- UHL names players of the week - IHL 2
- Feeling "ZOOper" - Kalamazoo Wings
- K-Wings Week in Review - Kalamazoo Wings
- Quad City Begins Busy Month of February - Quad City Mallards
- PrairieThunder goes to Elmira this weekend - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Chicago Hounds Weekly Notes - Chicago Hounds
- Flags Week in Review - Port Huron Flags
- Fury Third Period Onslaught Stuns Jackals 6-4 - Elmira Jackals
- Koehler earns weekly team honor - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Komets take three straight on the road - Fort Wayne Komets
- Generals weekly recap - Flint Generals
- Muskegon Fury notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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