Jackals Earn Dramatic Comeback Victory
Published on December 11, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
The Elmira Jackals scored three third-period goals and three shootout goals en route to a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Johnstown Chiefs on Friday night at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, Pa. Jackals goaltender Pier-Olivier Pelletier recorded his first professional win in net for Elmira. Elmira's three straight goals came after Johnstown had scored four consecutive goals against the Jackals. Brett Gallant scored his first career goal, Justin Donati knocked in a power-play goal, and Chris Korchinski tied the game for the Jackals in the comeback effort.
The Jackals took the early advantage in the game. Mat Robinson scored his second goal in as many games, skating over the blue line and firing a puck past Johnstown goaltender Kris Mayotte for the 1-0 Elmira lead at 14:14 of the first period.
With the Jackals looking like they would enter the first intermission with a one-goal lead, Johnstown used an odd-man rush to even the score at 19:56. Bryan Marshall deflected in a feed from Ryan Menei past Pelletier to even the score at 1-1.
The Chiefs took control in the second period on goals by RJ Anderson and Sean Berkstresser for the 3-1 lead entering the second intermission.
A goal by former Jackal Moises Gutierrez on a deflection 3:48 into the third period seemed to give Johnstown all the momentum it would need to cruise to the victory.
However, the Jackals began their comeback, with rookie Brett Gallant notching his first career goal from the left circle at 6:54 of the third period to pull Elmira back to within two.
Moments after, Elmira earned a power play. Justin Donati slapped a puck from the middle point past Mayotte to make it a one-goal deficit at 7:34 of the third period on the man advantage.
Minutes later, recently-signed Joe Grimaldi pushed a puck up the right wing side to Chris Korchinski, who danced around Greg Gallagher into the offensive zone and shot the puck past Mayotte at 11:22 of the period, tying the game 4-4.
After the tying goal, Johnstown coach Jeff Flanagan pulled Mayotte in favor of rookie Shane Connelly, who made nine saves on nine shots in regulation and overtime. Elmira could not solve him on an extended overtime power play with Mike Bartlett whistled with a five minute major for checking from behind, and the teams went to a shootout.
Maxime Gratchev began the shootout with a stylish spin-around goal on a backhand to give Elmira a 1-0 advantage. Justin Donati then shot a puck in on Connelly who made the initial save but fell into the net with the puck to make it 2-0. After a Chiefs shootout goal by Gutierrez, Chanse Fitzpatrick fired the puck past Connelly to seal the shootout 3-1 and give the Jackals the 5-4 victory.
This was the Jackals second comeback win at Johnstown this season, with Elmira earning a 2-1 overtime victory on Oct. 24 against the Chiefs. Each game was ended on a goal by Fitzpatrick. Pelletier made 21 saves on 25 Chiefs shots. Mayotte stopped 21 of 25 Jackals attempts before being pulled for Connelly, who received the shootout loss for the Chiefs.
With the victory, the Jackals snapped a three-game losing streak. Furthermore, Elmira improved its record against teams outside of the American South Division to 10-4-2-0, and upped its overall record to 11-9-2-1, moving to within four points of first-place Reading in the American East Division. The Jackals notched their first one-goal win since Oct. 25 at Wheeling.
The Jackals are on the road Saturday and Sunday against the Toledo Walleye in the first ever meetings between the two teams.
Don't forget to purchase your Jackals Holiday Stimulus Package! On Saturday, Dec. 26, the Jackals host the Reading Royals at 7:35 p.m. For $44, fans will receive four tickets to the game, four sodas, four boxes of popcorn, four chuck-a-pucks, four skating sessions at the First Arena Recreational Rink, and four skate rentals. There are only 200 packages available, so get yours today. To purchase this package, call (607) 734-PUCK (7825) or visit the First Arena Box Office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ECHL Stories from December 11, 2009
- Chiefs Fall To Jackals In Shootout - Johnstown Chiefs
- Reign Falls To Steelheads, 2-1 - Ontario Reign
- Steelheads Top Ontario, 2-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Bounces Go Against Nailers In 3-0 Setback - Wheeling Nailers
- Jackals Earn Dramatic Comeback Victory - Elmira Jackals
- Walleye Score Five-Unanswered in 6-2 Victory over Kalamazoo - Kalamazoo Wings
- Stingrays Push Winning Streak to Eight Games in 4-1 Victory over Trenton - South Carolina Stingrays
- Gladiators Shut Out Nailers - Atlanta Gladiators
- Checkers Rebound, Dump Everblades - Charlotte Checkers
- Charlotte Topples 'Blades 4-1 - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Sharks Reassign Sexsmith And K-Wings Loan Nie - Kalamazoo Wings
- Countdown To Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Game Preview: Condors Vs. Grizzlies Tonight - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Alaska Aces - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Names Merrell Manager Of Communications/Marketing/New Media - ECHL
- Nailers With Pair Of Home Games - Wheeling Nailers
- Rotruck On Penguins HD Radio - Wheeling Nailers
- Stingrays Gameday: Yeo Returns As Stingrays Face Trenton Tonight At 7:05 P.M. - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Defenseman Jared Ross Recalled To Providence - Reading Royals
- Salmon Kings Trip Up Wranglers, Win Fourth In A Row - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Wranglers Stopped By Salmon Kings, 4-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
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