Goaltender Ryan Cyr Leads Muskegon To 4-3 Comeback Win
Published on February 17, 2007 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Elmira Jackals News Release
Muskegon, MI - The Muskegon Fury erased a 3-goal deficit on their way to a 4-3 win over the Elmira Jackals Saturday night at L.C. Walker Arena.
Coming off a narrow defeat to the Fury on Friday night, the Jackals were looking to take an early lead in order to quiet the crowd and put pressure on the UHL's 1st place team. The Jackals did just that when David Morelli took a pass from Frank Littlejohn on the right side of the Muskegon crease and snapped a shot behind goaltender Clayton Pool for a 1-0 Elmira lead at 8:56. The goal was Morelli's 15th of the season, assisted by Frank Littlejohn and Derek Miller. The Jackals then received a vintage move from Littlejohn when he took a pass from David Hymovitz, sped down the right wing and unloaded a heavy slap shot from the top of the face off circle that burned past Pool for a 2-0 lead. The blast was Littlejohn's team-leading 28th goal of the year and was assisted by Hymovitz. The Jackals continued to pressure the Fury defenseman, as they several failed attempts by Muskegon to clear their zone, leading to a Derek Miller goal at 15:33. Miller kept a clearing attempt in at the right point, then fired a shot that deflected off a Muskegon defenseman and past Pool, an unassisted goal and Miller's 2nd goal of the season. After Elmira took a 3-0 lead, Fury head coach Bruce Ramsey pulled Pool from the net and replaced him with rookie backup Ryan Cyr.
In the second period, Muskegon upped the tempo and the pressure on the Elmira goal. Mike Watt got the Fury on the board with a goal at 3:37, assisted by Philippe Plante and Rustyn Dolyny. Muskegon cut the lead to 3-2 at 7:41 when Bill Zalba scored his 4th goal of the season, The Fury continued their assault on Dave Lemanowicz, who made some spectacular saves to keep the Jackals ahead by a goal. Elmira head coach Paul Gillis was forced to use his team's timeout with seven minutes remaining in the period, but it succeed as the Jackals carried their 3-2 lead into the 2nd intermission.
Muskegon got a greasy goal from Evan Kotsopoulos at 2:22, tying the game on a broken play in front the Jackals net. That's the same way that Muskegon took the lead. Elmira failed to clear the puck from the front of their net, and after a scramble in front that led to several point blank saves from Lemanowicz, Todd Robinson snapped the loose puck into an open net at 15:08, putting the Fury ahead 4-3. The Jackals tried to rally, by pulling their goaltender for the final minute of play, but again they came up just short in Muskegon 4-3.
Ryan Cyr earned the win in goal for Muskegon as he stopped all 21 shots he faced in the final 44:25 of the game, after coming in to relieve starter Clayton Pool late in the first period. Pool made 7 saves on 10 shots in 15:33 of action. Jackals goaltender Dave Lemanowicz blocked 38-of-42 Muskegon shots as Elmira drops to 23-29-1 on the season. Muskegon and Elmira both finished the game 0-for-3 on the power play.
The Jackals will complete their 4-game road trip with a Sunday afternoon game at The MARK of the Quad Cities as they take on the Quad City Mallards for a 4:00 pm EST face off (3:00 pm CST). Elmira's next home game comes on Friday, February 23rd as they host the Rockford IceHogs for GLN Tax & Payroll Rally Towel Giveaway Night, the first of a three-game series at First Arena; game time is scheduled for 7:35 pm.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 17, 2007
- Doyle's later third period goal wins it for the IceHogs - Rockford IceHogs
- Cadotte's Hat Trick Sends Flags Soaring over PrairieThunder, 5-3 - Port Huron Flags
- Goaltender Ryan Cyr Leads Muskegon To 4-3 Comeback Win - Elmira Jackals
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
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