Jackals Comeback Push Falls Short
February 28, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
ELMIRA, N.Y.- The Elmira Jackals (10-37-7-1) scored three goals in the third period and outscored the Reading Royals (32-20-1-2), 3-2, tonight, but lost the completed game 4-3 at First Arena. The game was a continuation of a previously suspended game from Feb. 17 and resumed with 6:07 remaining in the first period and Reading leading 2-0.
In the first portion of the game, played on Feb. 17, the Royals jumped on the Jackals early in the first period. Mike Pereira intercepted an attempted Jackals clear and fired home a shot from near the left wing circle just 1:20 into the first period to put Reading up 1-0. They increased their lead to 2-0 at 10:11 of the first period on a goal from Ryan Penny. He received a pass at the left circle then attempted to pass to a man in the slot, but the puck bounced into the Jackals net off an Elmira defenseman.
When the game resumed tonight, both teams made a few lineup changes, included new goalies as Andy Iles took over the Elmira net and Mark Dekanich stepped into Reading's cage. Neither team scored over the final 6:07 of the first period as Reading took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Royals scored the first goal of the night and took a 3-0 lead in the game just 1:43 into the second period. An initial point shot was blocked, but the loose puck ended up on the stick of Olivier Labelle, who fired home a shot for his 19th goal of the season. Later in the period, a defensive zone turnover ended up in the back of the Jackals net. Tyrell Goulbourne forced the turnover and drove to the net, where Iles poked the puck off his stick. Ryan Penny followed up and was first on the puck to score his second goal of the game for a 4-0 Royals lead at 16:28.
The Jackals played inspired hockey in the third period in their bid for a major comeback. Davis Vandane began the scoring in the third just 47 seconds into the period on a backhand goal on a breakaway, set up by Guy Leboeuf, which made it a 4-1 Royals lead. Then just a minute and a half later, Luke Sandler banged in his first goal as a member of the Jackals to get the Jackals within two at 2:10 of the third period.
After a brief delay to pop a pane of glass back into place, the Royals appeared to take a three-goal lead just again just nine seconds later, but a goal was negated because the puck was batted in with a high stick.
The Jackals comeback trail continued six minutes later on a terrific shorthanded rush for Elmira. Casey Thrush poked the puck to himself in the neutral zone, then got hooked from behind, drawing a penalty. He continued to skate into the offensive zone, got hauled down from behind, but still passed to Kenton Miller who roofed his 20th goal of the season at 8:20 to make it a 4-3 game.
The Jackals had several close calls late, including a power play in the final two minutes, but they ran out of time and lost the game 4-3, despite outscoring Reading tonight, 3-2.
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Upcoming Games:
Wednesday, March 1st: Elmira Jackals vs. Manchester Monarchs - 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 3rd: Elmira Jackals at Norfolk Admirals - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 4th: Elmira Jackals at Norfolk Admirals - 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, March 9th: Elmira Jackals vs. Norfolk Admirals - 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 10th: Elmira Jackals vs. Norfolk Admirals - 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 11th: Elmira Jackals vs. Reading Royals - 7:05 p.m.
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