Jackals Blow Three One Goal Leads In 5-3 Loss
January 5, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
Despite grabbing a quick 1-0 lead just 21 seconds into the game, the Elmira Jackals ended up blowing three one goal leads against Flint Sunday afternoon in a 5-3 loss to the Generals before 3,228 at the Coach USA Center.
Randy Murphy's 17th goal of the season put Elmira ahead, with Brad Wingfield and Corey Neilson picking up the assists. Flint came back to knot the score at 1-1 when Jay Woodcroft converted a Lee Jelenic pass at 9:42. Elmira came back to round out the first period scoring at 17:22 on the power play, with Mike Thompson shoving a backhand past goaltender Martin Villeneuve for his ninth of the year. David Lessard and Wingfield picked up the assists on the goal to make it 2-1 after 20 minutes.
In the second, Flint would once again tie the game, this time off the stick of Anders Linden. Jelenic and Corey Laniuk provided the helpers at 4:09. The Jackals again took the lead when Gerry Hickey notched his first pro goal at 11:51, converting a cross-crease pass from Lessard. Ryan Esselmont added the other assist. That goal would prove to be Elmira's final lead of the night, as Dale Greenwood scored twice before the end of the second period to forge a 4-3 lead for the Generals. At 16:21 Jim Duhart and Sylvain Dufrense set up Greenwood for the tying goal, and at 19:15 Greenwood scored a power play goal from Bobby Reynolds and Dufrense that would turn out to be the eventual game winner.
In the third period, despite pressure from the Jackals, Villeneuve held his ground and Flint denied the Jackals on three power play opportunities as well as several even strength chances. With Marco Emond on the bench for the extra attacker, Reynolds would score an empty net goal to make it a 5-3 win for the Generals, with Greenwood adding the final assist. Emond stopped 30 of 34 shots faced, and only had to make one save in the third period. Flint's second shot of the third period ended up as the game clinching empty net goal.
Elmira drops to 18-15-4, while Flint improves to the same mark of 18-15-4. Both teams are tied for fourth place in the UHL's Eastern Conference, and the Jackals will now head on the road for their longest excursion of the season, playing six games in 10 days. The trip will start on Wednesday against Kalamazoo, head to Muskegon Friday, Quad City Saturday, then Missouri next week Tuesday. The Jackals re-visit Rockford next Wednesday, and return to Muskegon Friday before driving back overnight to face Adirondack Saturday, January 18th at 7 pm at the Coach USA Center. Elmira will debut their brand new third jerseys in that game, which also marks the first time in 12 games that they have faced the IceHawks.
Tickets are still available for that and all remaining Jackal home games through the Coach USA Center Box Office, open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm. Seats may also be purchased through all TicketMaster locations, online at www.TicketMaster.com, or charge by phone at (607) 722-3711.
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ECHL Stories from January 5, 2003
- RiverBlades Sink Sea Wolves, 7-2 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Kingfish shoot down 'Pilots, 4-3 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Jackals Blow Three One Goal Leads In 5-3 Loss - Elmira Jackals
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- All Along the Coast - ECHL
- Grrrowl end 3-game road trip with win over Stingrays - Greenville Grrrowl
- Gulls win 12th straight with 4-2 win - San Diego Gulls
- Steelheads Rumble over Falcons - Idaho Steelheads
- Grizzlies Take Care of Moose, 6-2 - Utah Grizzlies
- Storm Shot Down in Shootout - Toledo Walleye
- Countdown to Face-off 1/5/03 - Kalamazoo Wings
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