Jackals Continue Surge, Hold off Devils for 4-3 Win

February 27, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


Elmira, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals (25-23-6-1) completed a three-game weekend sweep with a 4-3 win over the Trenton Devils (21-31-1-4) at First Arena on Sunday afternoon. Yannick Tifu and Justin Donati both had four points in the victory for the Jackals, who improved to 3-0 under new coach Robbie Nichols and jumped into a tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Elmira had to battle back from an early 1-0 deficit for the third-straight time this weekend when Matt Vokes shot a puck in from the slot at 11:49. The Devils took the one-goal lead into the second period.

Three power-play goals in the middle frame gave Elmira a two-goal advantage.

Tifu snapped in a wrist shot from the left circle over the glove off Devils goaltender Jeff Lerg 28 seconds into the period to tie it, 1-1.

Drew Paris wristed a shot in from the left circle for his first goal as a Jackal, giving Elmira a 2-1 lead at 4:03.

A backdoor feed by Tifu redirected off of Donati's leg and into the net at 11:45 of the second to give the Jackals a 3-1 lead.

The Devils came out firing in the third period, outshooting the Jackals 7-0 to start the period and getting a pair of goals from Jeremy Akeson at 2:07 and Vokes at 4:12 to tie the game, 3-3.

The Jackals received clutch play again from Tifu and Donati, who for the second-straight night teamed up late for a late game winner. Tifu deflected a puck in at the top of the crease after taking a feed from Donati to give Elmira the lead once again, 4-3, at 14:26.

Jackals goaltender Marco Cousineau earned his third victory of the weekend with a 19-save performance, improving to 16-11-4-0. Lerg made 30 saves as he dropped to 8-9-0-0 in the 2010-2011 season.

Donati's four-point game gave him the league lead with 74 points (19g-55a). The Oakville, Ontario native had nine points (4g-5a) on the weekend. Tifu's four points gave him 57 (19g-38a), one ahead of his ECHL total from last season.

The Jackals had won only six games when being scored on first all season entering the weekend, but won three games when battling back from a 1-0 deficit this weekend to up their total to nine for the 2010-2011 campaign.

Elmira has won four-straight home games for the first time all season and earned its first Sunday home victory of the year with the 4-3 decision.

The Jackals are tied with Cincinnati and Gwinnett for seventh place in the standings with 57 points.

Elmira is at home on Wednesday at First Arena to host the Wheeling Nailers. To purchase tickets call (607) 734-PUCK (7825), visit the First Arena Box Office, or log onto JackalsHockey.com.

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