Jackals complete dominant sweep

Published on January 23, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


Behind five points from Tyler Donati and five power-play goals, the Elmira Jackals earned an 8-2 win over the Toledo Walleye on Saturday night at Lucas County Arena in Toledo, Ohio. The Jackals completed a weekend sweep of the Walleye with the victory, ending their road trip with two straight wins and giving Steve Martinson his 100th win as the coach of the Jackals.

The Walleye, though, were the ones who struck first. Adam Hobson stickhandled from the right circle and performed a forehand-backhand deke past Jackals goaltender Julien Ellis to make it 1-0 Walleye at 5:29 of the first period. It was the only time the Walleye would lead all night.

The Jackals stormed back late in the first period, when Wes Cunningham's slap shot from the high slot gave Elmira its first power-play goal of the contest, making it 1-1 at 16:53.

In the second period, Keegan Dansereau redirected a Brennan Turner shot past Walleye goaltender Jordan Pearce to give the Jackals the lead for good 52 seconds into the second period.

The Jackals extended their lead when Tyler Donati skated around the net and went to the left circle, and found Jackals captain Olivier Proulx cutting backdoor who tapped the puck in to make it 3-1 at 3:18 of the second period. It would prove to be the game-winning goal.

Elmira scored its final goal of the second period 5:34 in, with the Jackals on a five-on-three power play. Yannick Tifu found Dansereau in the high slot who drove the puck past Pearce to make it 4-1. Like Friday night with the score 4-1 in favor of the Jackals, Donati extended the Jackals lead to 5-1.

The Jackals scored their third power-play goal when Donati's wrist shot from the right wing found the top shelf to make it 5-1 at 2:34 of the third period.

Minutes later, Proulx knocked in his own rebound to make it 6-1 at 6:25 for the Jackals' fourth power-play goal.

After Dominic Osman scored at 10:33 of the third period to give the Walleye their second goal, Matt Lowry battled back 24 seconds later on a two-on-one with Brendan Connolly, and Lowry's wrist shot beat Pearce blocker side to make it 7-2 Jackals.

Bear Trapp gave the Jackals an 8-2 lead at 18:52 of the third period, lifting a puck top shelf for the Jackals' fifth power-play goal of the contest.

Trapp's goal ended the scoring, as the Jackals improved to 20-17-2-2 on the season. The Walleye fell to 23-15-1-3, as they lost two straight after entering the weekend winners of six straight games.

Martinson's 100th win with Elmira came in the city in which his professional playing career began in the 1981-1982 season with the Toledo Goaldiggers.

Donati ended the weekend with eight points, posting three goals and five assists. Mat Robinson had a +3 in Saturday night's win, adding to his +4 that he earned in the victory on Friday night.

Ellis made 29 saves on 31 shots, improving to 7-3-0-0 with the Jackals. Pearce fell to 8-9-0-1 in 2009-2010 with the loss.

The Jackals earned their eighth win of the season by three goals or more, their fifth win when scoring at least seven goals, and scored eight goals or more in a game for the second time this season.

Elmira outscored Toledo 15-4 over the two games, getting its first two wins all-time against the Walleye.

Elmira's road trip comes to an end with the Jackals going 3-2-0-0, and the Jackals head back home with three games next weekend. The Jackals host the Gwinnett Gladiators on Friday and Saturday at First Arena at 7:35 p.m., and play the Walleye on Sunday in Elmira at 4:05..

For tickets, visit the First Arena Box Office 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, call (607) 734-PUCK (7825) or log onto Ticketmaster.com.

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ECHL Stories from January 23, 2010


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