Jackals hang on in Wheeling 3-1

Published on December 21, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


Benoit Doucet scored once and set up the game-winner as the Elmira Jackals fended off the Wheeling Nailers Friday night at WesBanco Arena in front of 2,142 fans. The win was Elmira's fifth in a row and its third in three tries this season against Wheeling.

Despite holding a 12-7 shots advantage and having three power play chances in the first period, the Jackals and Nailers were scoreless at the end of twenty minutes.

Justin Chwedoruk went off for tripping 2:53 into the contest and was followed off the ice by Jeremy Swanson 1:16 later for hooking to give Elmira a two-man advantage for forty-four seconds. The Jackals pressured, but were held at bay by Martin Houle (36 saves)

Facing just seven shots in the opening period, Joel Martin (22 saves) was forced to make several big stops to keep the visitors from falling behind on the road.

Four more power plays awaited in the second period and they finally broke the ice with a Nailer in the box early on.

With Joe Jensen serving a hooking penalty, Frank Littlejohn threw a pass to the front that deflected off of a Wheeling skate and bounded directly onto the stick of Doucet. The rookie calmly fired home his fifth goal of the season into a wide open net at 4:23 for a 1-0 lead.

Wheeling then fended off two separate 5-on-3 power plays chances by Elmira in the period before tying the game with 2:51 to go in the period.

Sean Collins looped a bouncing puck over the shoulder of Martin to tie the contest at 1-1, but the deadlock would last all of seven seconds.

Benoit Doucet led the rush off of the ensuing face-off into the offensive zone. Feeding to his left, his pass landed on to the stick of newcomer Dan Kronick who drilled home his first of the year at 17:16 to put the Jackals in front 2-1 after forty minutes of play.

Neither side mounted much on the way of offensive pressure in the final period that featured just nine combined shots (5-4 Wheeling), but it took a final second goal into an open net by Pierre-Luc Faubert to secure the win and extend his ECHL club record scoring streak to seven games.

The final shots totaled at 39-22 in favor of the visitors. The Jackals struggled on the power play, going just 1-for-10, but the penalty kill was perfect in six opportunities. Included in that were three chances for the Nailers in the final period.

The win allowed the Jackals to keep pace with Cincinnati atop the North Division as the Cyclones won earlier Friday night in Johnstown 5-3. Both clubs have 40 points in 27 games this season with a meeting looming December 29th at First Arena in Elmira.

Elmira closes out the pre-Christmas portion of its schedule in a rematch with the Nailers Saturday in Wheeling. Game time is 7:35 p.m. with the Hill Top Inn Countdown to Face-Off airing at 7:05 p.m. on MAGIC FM (92.7/97.7) and at www.jackalshockey.com.

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ECHL Stories from December 21, 2007


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