Jackals Take Back-And-Forth Contest over Everblades

Published on December 7, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


Estero, Fla. - The Elmira Jackals extended their winning streak to six games on Wednesday night at Germain Arena, prevailing in a high-scoring contest over the Florida Everblades, 5-4. Elmira's winning streak is the club's longest since the Jackals won seven-straight games to kick off the 2009-2010 campaign.

For the first time in seven games, Elmira scored first. Rob Bellamy charged the net and pushed home a loose puck in the crease after a Jordan Pietrus shot was deflected by Everblades goaltender Pat Nagle, putting the Jackals up 1-0 just 14 seconds into the opening period.

David Rutherford drove a puck from the top of the left circle past a screen set by Trevor Bruess and by Elmira netminder Brian Stewart to tie the game with a power-play goal, 1-1, at 9:04.

Jack Downing scored on the power play at 3:35 of the second period with a snap shot on the doorstep that beat Nagle glove side, giving Elmira a 2-1 lead and kicking off a stretch of 2:57 that saw five goals between the two clubs.

After Stewart was knocked into his net and lost his stick, Matt Beca tapped in a centering feed from Luc Tardif to tie the game at 4:30, 2-2.

Just 23 seconds later, Craig Rivet one-timed a feed from Pietrus over Nagle's glove and into the net for his first goal as a Jackal, putting Elmira back in front 3-2.

Ryan Donald set up Tardif on a breakaway, and Tardif backhanded a puck past Stewart at 5:53, evening the game at 3-3.

Bruess tipped in a blue-line shot by David Fischer at 6:32 of the second period, capping the flurry of goals and giving the Everblades their first lead of the game, 4-3.

Mike Radja fired a Rivet feed from the right circle over Nagle's glove to tie the game, 4-4, at 18:35 of the second on the power play.

With the game deadlocked at four goals apiece late, Dustin Gazley blocked a shot to Kevin King, who fed Radja at center ice to start a rush for Elmira. Radja fed the puck for Gazley, who gave it right back, springing Radja in on Nagle. The fourth-year pro backhanded the puck past Nagle's glove, giving Elmira the lead for good at 14:49 of the third, 5-4. The goal was Radja's fifth in the last three contests.

The Jackals and Stewart held off the Everblades the rest of the way, including turning aside a furious rush in the final 15 seconds, as Elmira prevailed with the victory.

Stewart stopped 25 of 29 shots to improve to 9-3-0-0. Nagle dropped to 6-6-0-0 with 14 saves.

The game was the 18th of 22 this season involving the Jackals decided by one or two goals. All six games during Elmira's current winning streak have been one or two-goal contests.

The Jackals and the Everblades meet again on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Elmira returns home to host Wheeling on Dec. 26 on 4-for-$44 night. To reserve your seats call (607) 734-PUCK (7825), visit the First Arena Box Office, or log onto JackalsHockey.com.

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ECHL Stories from December 7, 2011


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