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Jackals End Series with Cyclones

February 10, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


Game 47: Elmira Jackals (9-32-5-0) at Cincinnati Cyclones (21-21-4-0)

7:35 p.m., U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio

The Jackals and Cincinnati Cyclones meet for the final time this season in the second game in three nights at U.S. Bank Arena. Before Wednesday night, the teams last played in the 2014-15 season, when the Jackals won three of four matches, including two out of three in Cincinnati .

Cincinnati has won three straight games after dropping eight of their last nine at the tail end of January. With just four wins in their last 10 games, the Cyclones are 21-21-4-0 on the season, placing them in fifth place in the North Division with 46 points, seven points behind Greenville for the final playoff position.

The Jackals have lost 10 straight games in regulation, matching their longest drought of the season, dropping to 9-32-5-0 on the season. With 23 points, the Jackals are in sixth place in the North Division and 13th place in the Eastern Conference. They are on the road all week finishing a four games in five nights stretch with back-to-back games in Quad City Saturday and Sunday.

Broadcast Coverage

Jackals Pregame at 7:20 p.m. Radio: 1410 WELM | TV: WETM-2

Follow us on twitter @JackalsHockey and use #JackalsHockey for live coverage.

Last time out

The Cincinnati Cyclones scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Jackals, 5-1, in the first game of the Jackals Midwest road trip Wednesday night at U.S. Bank Arena.

Despite a strong first period, the Jackals were down 2-1 after 20 minutes. Jordan Sims opened the scoring by taking advantage of a Jackals turnover in their own zone at 10:36. Elmira got that goal right back on a one-timer from Greg Betzold at the bottom of the right wing circle at 12:14. Sims scored his second unassisted goal of the period on a shorthanded goal at 14:54, giving the Cyclones the lead for good, 2-1.

Cincinnati scored the only goal in the second period on an end-to-end rush by Andrew Yogan at 11:49, giving the Cyclones a 3-1 lead. In the third, Dylan Nowakowski put Cincinnati up by three with a goal off a set faceoff play and then Sims completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal at 18:37 to seal a 5-1 Cyclones win .

On the road again

After playing one home game last week, the Jackals are right back on the road for four games in five nights in the Midwest. The trip started Wednesday night in Cincinnati and, after tonight's game in the Queen City, it continues in the Quad Cities against the Quad City Mallards Saturday and Sunday.

In total, the Jackals will travel approximately 1,766 miles--550 miles from Elmira to Cincinnati, 416 miles from Cincinnati to Quad City and 800 miles from Quad City back to Elmira.

After this week, the Jackals will have just seven road games left on their schedule as opposed to 16 home games .

Head-to-head

Tonight is the final of two matches between the Jackals and Cyclones in 2016-17, concluding the first series the teams have played since the 2014-15 season. That year, the Jackals won three of the four head-to-head matches, including two out of three in Cincinnati.

Jordan Sims opened the series Wednesday night with his first hat trick in a four-point performance. No other Cyclone had more than one point in Wednesday's win. Greg Betzold, a former Cyclone, had the only Jackals goal Wednesday night.

Overall, since the teams began playing when the Jackals joined the ECHL for the 2007-08 season, Elmira holds a 23-14-6 record over the Cyclones. The only ECHL clubs the Jackals have more wins against are Reading (56) and Wheeling (45).

Scouting the Cyclones

The Cyclones slumped at the end of January, losing eight of nine games before their current three-game winning streak. On the season, the Cyclones are 21-21-4-0 and are in fifth place in the South Division with 46 points, seven points behind Greenville. After two games with Elmira, Cincinnati concludes the week with a home match against Fort Wayne and a trip to Toledo.

Cincinnati is 23rd in the ECHL at 2.85 goals per game, but they are dangerous in the first period, scoring 48 of their 131 goals in the first 20 minutes. Andrew Yogan leads the Cyclones offense with 32 points (15g, 17a) in 30 games. He has a team-high five game-winning goals and also has nine power-play points (2g, 7a). Shane Walsh is next with 31 points (12g, 19a), 21 of which have come in 28 games since joining Cincinnati from Utah.

In net Michael Houser and Mark Visentin have split the action, appearing in 23 and 22 games respectively. Houser is 12-9-1-0 with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. His goals-against and save percentage are second in the ECHL and he also has one shutout. Visentin has a 9-10-1-0 record with a 2.93 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage with two shutouts.

Fast start

The first period of tonight's game is important for both teams. Cincinnati's best period is the first period, with a +11 goal differential in the opening 20 minutes. The first period is the only period the Cyclones have a positive goal differential, with a -3 in the second period and a -11 in the third period.

The Cyclones hold a 16-1-3-0 record when leading after the first period, which they did Wednesday night against the Jackals. They are also 17-5-3-0 when scoring the game's first goal.

Special teams

The Cyclones power play sits 19th in the ECHL at 15.5% (25-for-161). 15 of their 25 goals have been scored on home ice, where they have a 21.7% success rate, which is ninth in the ECHL among home teams.

The Jackals power play is 1-for-25 over their last 10 games since Jan. 21, falling to 20-for-146 (13.7%) on the season, ranking 21st in the ECHL. They've scored just 10 power play goals on the road in 93 chances, a 10.8% success rate, which is 23rd away from home.

Cincinnati's penalty kill has allowed 27 power-play goals in 145 shorthanded situations, an 81.5% kill rate, which ranks 17th in the league. The Cyclones are much tougher at home, where they have allowed just nine power-play goals and rank fourth at 87.1%.

The Jackals penalty kill is 6-for-6 over the last two games. Elmira, which has allowed 34 power-play goals, ranks 23rd in the ECHL on the PK at 79.0%. Only Fort Wayne (26) has allowed more power-play goals on the road than the Jackals (25).

Don't miss a minute of the action with Jackals season tickets! Call (607) 734-7825 or visit jackalshockey.com to order your season tickets today!

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Group tickets are a great way to entertain employees, co-workers, clients, friends and family. For more information on discounted group tickets and a list of group benefits, call (607) 734-7825 or visit http://www.jackalshockey.com/groups/.

Officially licensed Elmira Jackals replica team jerseys, apparel and headwear can be purchased online at: http://www.jackalshockey.com/

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Upcoming Games:

Friday, February 10th: Elmira Jackals at Cincinnati Cyclones - 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, February 11th: Elmira Jackals at Quad City Mallards - 8:05 p.m.

Sunday, February 12th: Elmira Jackals at Quad City Mallards - 5:05 p.m.

Friday, February 17th: Elmira Jackals vs. Reading Royals - 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, February 18th: Elmira Jackals at Reading Royals - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 19th: Elmira Jackals at Reading Royals - 4:00 p.m.



ECHL Stories from February 10, 2017


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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