Jackals Struggle To Find Wins or Offense

Published on March 20, 2007 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Elmira Jackals News Release


The 23rd week of the UHL season was not a favorable stretch for the Elmira Jackals. Desperate for points to keep pace with Port Huron and Chicago, the Jackals struggled to find enough offense. Elmira was out-scored 18-6 in their 3 games this past week, losing all three games by the same 6-2 score. Friday and Saturday on Green Ice at First Arena, the Jackals found themselves down early against Muskegon, not a team that allows for many epic comebacks. Sunday the Jackals quickly answered an early Port Huron goal, but allowed 3 power play goals to the Flags en route to another 6-2 loss. Sundays defeat was even more painful because it came at the hands of the Flags, who currently occupy the 4th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Several positives for the Jackals include Glenn Detulleo, who is averaging a point-per-game since being acquired from Kalamazoo in a trade on March 2nd, and rookie forward Dan Veenema who has 6 points in his last 10 games.

The Jackals have a short but important week coming up at First Arena. They will host the defending Colonial Cup champion Kalamazoo Wings for two very crucial games Friday and Saturday night. Elmira has struggled against the top teams in the UHL this season, including a 1-5-0 record against the K-Wings, with their only victory coming via a 5-3 win at Wings Stadium on January 27th. The reunion with former Jackals captain Brent Cullaton may not occur this weekend; Cullaton has not played for Kalamazoo since March 9th and has not registered a point in 4 games with his new team since the trade on March 2nd. Positive news for the Jackals, goal-scoring power house Mike Oliveira, who broke his wrist playing against Kalamazoo on Valentine's Day, may be ready to come off the Injured Reserve for the weekend, which would provide Elmira with an instant offensive boost.

Week 23 Game Results:

3/16/07 Muskegon 6 @ Elmira 2

Elmira, NY - Ryan Barnes and Bill Zalba each scored two goals as the Muskegon Fury beat the Elmira Jackals 6-2 Friday night on Green Ice at First Arena.

The Fury wasted little time putting the pressure on Elmira in the Jackals return to home ice following their 6-game road trip. Ryan Barnes opened the scoring at 6:11 when he knocked home a rebound on a power play, assisted by Todd Robinson and Philippe Plante. Barnes then scored his second goal of the game at 12:52, finishing off a great two-on-one pass from Robinson. Bill Zalba made it 3-0 Fury when he created a turnover, raced down the right wing and unleashed a slap shot from the face off circle that beat starting goaltender Dave Lemanowicz at 15:05. The Jackals got on the board late in the period as Glenn Detulleo scored his 13th goal of the season on the power play at 17:23, assisted by Frank Littlejohn and Nick Harloff, giving Elmira some momentum going into the first intermission.

But Zalba quickly quieted the crowd in the second period as he scored his second goal of the night at 2:36, assisted by Kevin Cooper, putting the Fury ahead 4-1. Bobby Kukulka pulled the Jackals back within two goals by scoring his 24th goal of the year at 8:19, assisted by Dan Veenema and Erik Anderson. But again Muskegon had the answer as rookie Mark Nebus scored his first professional goal in his first career pro game at 9:05, with the assisted going to Cooper and Joe Pomaranski. With a 5-1 deficit, the Jackals pulled Lemanowicz for back up Zach Sikich, who shut the door on Muskegon for the remainder of the period.

Cooper then scored the highlight goal of the night as he slipped past a defenseman and slotted a backhand shot past Sikich at 6:44, an unassisted goal that made it 6-1 Muskegon. The Jackals out-shot Muskegon 26-to-21 over the final two period of play, but starter Ryan Cyr made some excellent saves to stave off any ideas of an Elmira comeback.

Ryan Cyr earned the win in goal for Muskegon as he made 31 saves on 33 shots. Jackals starter Dave Lemanowicz took the loss, while stopping 14-of-19 shots in the first 29:05 of play. Zach Sikich looked solid in goal over the final 30:55, blocking 15-of-16 shots to close out the game. Elmira dropped to 27-38-1 on the season and were 1-for-5 on the power play; the Fury finished 1-for-3 with the man advantage.

3/17/07 Muskegon 6 @ Elmira 2

Elmira, NY - The Muskegon Fury took a two-game weekend sweep over the Elmira Jackals with a 6-2 victory Saturday night on Green Ice at First Arena.

The Fury wasted little time picking up the offense they generated on Friday against Elmira. Philippe Plante scored a power play goal just 2:29 into the first period, assisted by Kevin Cooper and Todd Robinson, putting Elmira on their heels. Joe Pomaranski doubled the Muskegon lead when he knocked in a perfect pass from Mike Watt at 5:26 for a short-handed goal. Watt then made it 3-0 Fury when he tipped a Josh Chase pass into the top of the net at 7:23. Jackals head coach Paul Gillis then used his only timeout to settle the troops down after the early barrage and his strategy worked. One minute later Frank Littlejohn redirected a shot by Nick Harloff from the blue line past goaltender Clayton Pool at 8:24; Littlejohn's 34th goal of the season, a career high, assisted by Harloff and Joe Markusen. The Jackals continued to draw on their sudden momentum shift, but Pool came up with some fine saves to maintain Muskegon's 2-goal lead through the first period.

In the second period Elmira looked to build off their energy of the 1st, but were denied twice by the goal post as both Nick Harloff and Erik Anderson hit the iron. Mike Watt scored his second goal of the game at 9:40, Muskegon's 2nd power play goal of the contest, assisted by Robinson and Plante for a 4-1 Fury lead. But the Jackals grabbed a late goal to stay in the game when Glenn Detulleo tipped Andrei Lupandin's shot from the point into the net as the buzzer sounded ending the period. The referee's conferred and awarded the goal to the Jackals at 19:59, with assists going to Lupandin and David Morelli.

Todd Robinson against quelled the energy inside First Arena when he faked out goaltender Zach Sikich, skated around the back of the goal and tucked the puck inside the far post just 1:26 into the third period, making it 5-2 Fury. Late in the period Elmira pulled Sikich for the extra attacker, only to have Robinson score an empty net goal at 18:26, his 2nd goal of the night, capping off a 6-2 Muskegon win.

Clayton Pool earned the win in goal for the Fury as he made 30 saves on 32 shots in his 30th win of the year. Zach Sikich took the loss in goal for Elmira as he blocked 22-of-27 shots. The Jackals dropped to 27-39-1 on the season and finished 0-for-6 on the power play; Muskegon was 2-for-4 on the power play.

3/18/07 Elmira 2 @ Port Huron 6

Port Huron, MI - Scott Wray scored three goals against his old club as the Port Huron Flags beat the Elmira Jackals 6-2 Sunday afternoon at McMorran Place Arena.

Continuing to be a nemesis for the Jackals, Scott Wray put the Flags on the board with a goal at 2:01, assisted by Pat Sutton and Greg Bullock. But the Jackals struck right back when rookie forward Dan Veenema fired in his 5th goal of the season at 2:49, unassisted to tie the game. Referee John Searle then called three consecutive minor penalties on the Jackals, giving Port Huron almost two full minutes of a 5-on-3 power play. The Jackals battled hard, but with about 30 seconds left on the two-man advantage Scott Wray slapped in his second goal of the game at 15:03 to put the Flags ahead 2-1.

In the second period the Jackals poured on the pressure early, but were hindered by penalties as Port Huron received four second period power plays. Steve Hildenbrand scored the Flags' second power play goal of the game at 14:26, assisted by Wray and Cadotte giving the home side a 3-1 lead.

Scott Wray completed his hat trick just 18 seconds into the third period with another power play goal. Kris Vernarsky made it 5-1 Flags at 9:27 with an even strength goal to put the game on ice. Frank Littlejohn scored his 35th goal of the season at 13:18, assisted by Marc Lefebvre and Glenn Detulleo, but Robert Snowball finished off the night with a goal at 16:13 to cap a 6-2 Flags win.

Noah Ruden earned the win for Port Huron as he made 25 saves on 27 shots in goal. Dave Lemanowicz took the loss for the Jackals, stopping 30-of-36 shots in goal as Elmira dropped to 27-40-1 on the year.

Jackals Player & Goaltender of the Week: (Week 23)

Glenn Detulleo - C 3 GP, 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points, -1, 0 PIMs Coming over to the Jackals at the trade deadline, Glenn Detulleo has been a consistent offensive force for Elmira. He is averaging a point per game and he continued that trend this week. Detulleo scored 3 points in 3 games (2 goals, 1 assists) in a week where the Jackals were out-scored 18-6. Detulleo had a goal in each of the two games against Muskegon, then assisted on one of the Jackals' two goals in Port Huron on Sunday.

Zach Sikich - G 2 GP, 0-1-0, 4.62 GAA, 0.841 SV%, 37 saves In a tough week for the Jackals and their goaltenders rookie Zach Sikich produced some bright moments. Sikich came in to Friday's game for the final 31 minutes and allowed just one goal on 16 shots to the high-powered Muskegon offense. Saturday he made 22 saves in a 6-2 loss to the Fury. On the week he had a 4.62 goals against average and a 0.841 save percentage.

JACKAL BITES:

* 200, 300 AND COUNTING - Defenseman R.C. Lyke played in his 300th career pro game on Friday against Muskegon at First Arena. Forward Bobby Kukulka played in his 200th career pro game on Saturday against Muskegon.

* A POINT A GAME - Forward Glenn Detulleo has averaged exactly 1 point per game since joining the Jackals via trade on March 2nd. He has 3 goals and 6 assists in his 9 games for Elmira, making him the team's leading scorer in the past 10 games.

* CHIPPING AWAY - Captain Erik Anderson recorded his 250th career pro point on Friday with an assist against Muskegon. Anderson has 91 goals and 159 assists in his 6-year pro career; just 9 goals shy of the 100 goals mark.

* THOSE PESKY TOP FOUR - The Jackals recent struggles can be linked directly to Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo, Muskegon and Rockford. Combined this year Elmira is 3-21-0 against the top four teams in the UHL; while the Jackals are 24-19-1 against the other 5 teams in the league.

* CONTINUING A CAREER MARK - Forward Frank Littlejohn is having a career year in goal scoring for the Jackals. He currently leads the team with 35 goals this season, beating his previous best of 33 goals in the 2004-05 season. As of Tuesday, Littlejohn is tied with Muskegon's Mike Watt for 7th in the UHL in goals this year.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 20, 2007


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