Jackals Defeat Kalamazoo 5-2

March 14, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


The Elmira Jackals started a two game weekend set in Kalamazoo with a convincing 5-2 win Friday night at Wings Stadium in front of 1,845 fans, some of whom traveled all the way from Elmira with the Jackals Booster Club to cheer the win.

The Jackals had to overcome a two-goal deficit early in the game, falling behind on goals my Kurt Miller and Shawn Roed. But Mike Thompson responded with his first of the night at 15:37 to close the gap to 2-1 at the close of the first frame. Mike Hofstrand assisted on the goal, carrying the puck down the left wing and throwing it towards the net where Thompson banged home the rebound on K-Wing goaltender Chad Alban.

Second stanza action belonged entirely to the Jackals, as they put up three goals in the period. Thompson's second of the night at 10:56 from Corey Neilson and David Lessard tied the game at 2-2, then Hofstrand scored a power play marker three minutes later. He tipped in Neilson's shot from the point, with Lessard also netting his second assist of the night on the play. Finally, Aaron Phillips finished the second period scoring with a beautiful individual effort, taking a Hofstrand pass at center and working down the ice one-on-one against K-Wing defenseman Dan Hodge. Phillips slipped the puck between Hodge's skates, cut to his left on the backhand, waited Alban down to the ice, and then flipped a shot from just in front of the goal line into the top of the net for a 4-2 Jackal lead. What made Phillips' goal even more remarkable was that he was not only almost past the net, but on his backhand as well with a sprawling Alban to roof the puck over!

. The goals was Phillips' 30th of the year and 65th point this season.

In the third Elmira settled down and concentrated on defense. Marco Emond made several key saves in the game, and again frustrated Kalamazoo shooters with 14 third period saves. With the K-Wing goal agape, Glenn Stewart redirected a Randy Murphy offering in front for his team-leading 31st goal of the year. Phillips picked up the other assist on the goal at 19:11 for a 5-2 Jackals win. Elmira was outshot 33-32 in the game, but certainly outplayed Kalamazoo over the final 50 minutes of hockey. With the win, Elmira improves to 37-24-7 on the year, good for 81 points. The Jackals now sit just three points behind dormant Adirondack, and Fort Wayne, who picked up a point with a shootout loss against Quad City Friday night.

The Jackals will be right back at it again on Saturday night, taking on the K-Wings from Wings Stadium at 7:30 pm. Pre-game show starts at 7 pm on your Home for Jackals Hockey, WiNGZ 104.9!



ECHL Stories from March 14, 2003


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