Jackals Overcome by Royals in Overtime, 3-2

November 21, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


Reading, Pa. - The Elmira Jackals (9-2-4-0) dropped a 3-2 decision to the Reading Royals (9-6-0-0) in overtime on Sunday evening at the Sovereign Center. The Jackals had a two-goal lead in the third period, but the Royals scored twice to force overtime before winning the game on a Matt Caruana goal.

Eric Regan's wrist shot from the right point slid past the stick of Royals goaltender Matt Dalton at 5:31 of the first period put Elmira up 1-0. Samson Mahbod and A.J. Perry had assists on the goal. On the play, Regan extended his point streak to six games (3g-3a) while Perry's assists streak increased to five games (0g-7a).

In the second period, Justin Donati banged in a loose puck from the top of the crease, with assists credited to Patrick Coulombe and Dustin Cameron, at 6:53 to give the Jackals a 2-0 advantage. The goal served as Donati's 22nd point of the season, putting him into a tie for the league lead.

Casey Haines entered the zone short handed at the 9:06 mark of the third period and swatted a puck from the slot past Jackals goaltender Marco Cousineau to make it 2-1.

Later in the third, the Royals broke in on a three-on-one rush. Caruana fed the puck inside the Jackals zone to Ben Gordon who dropped it back for Eric Castonguay in the slot, and Castonguay buried his shot past the glove of Cousineau to even the score, 2-2, at 11:16. Caruana now has points in 10-straight games (10g-5a).

In overtime, the Jackals had a power play but Caruana broke into the Jackals end and poked the puck past an aggressive Cousineau from the slot for the short-handed, game-winning goal at 1:10.

Cousineau stopped 32 of 35 Royals shots as he fell to 5-1-4-0. Dalton turned away 39 of 41 Jackals bids to improve to 5-3-0-0.

In getting to overtime, Elmira extended its road point-earning streak to seven games (5-0-2-0), the longest in the ECHL this season. The Jackals also maintained sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with 22 points, one ahead of second-place Gwinnett. Elmira is now 0-4 in sudden-death overtime in 2010-2011.

The Jackals return home for four games this Thanksgiving week, hosting contests on Wednesday, Nov. 24, Friday, Nov. 26, Saturday, Nov. 27 and Sunday, Nov. 28. Wednesday's 7:05 p.m. game against the Alaska Aces is "Bring a Buddy Night" at First Arena as all valued Jackals season ticket holders are invited to bring a friend to the game. For details or questions, call (607) 734-PUCK (7825).



ECHL Stories from November 21, 2010


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