Littlejohn Nets A Pair As Jackals Stop The Chiefs 3-1
January 30, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
ELMIRA, NY - Frank Littlejohn scored twice and Dan LaCosta stopped 28 shots as the Elmira Jackals picked up their fourth straight home ice win, a 3-1 decision over the Johnstown Chiefs Wednesday in front of 3,143 fans at First Arena.
Despite a 16-5 edge in shots in the opening twenty minutes, the Jackals found themselves in a scoreless battle before getting the period's only goal with just 42.1 seconds left in the first after the Chiefs had brief pressure in the Elmira end.
Benoit Doucet started a rush off of the right wing boards just inside the Jackals blue line. Spotting Littlejohn breaking through center, Doucet feathered a perfect feed onto the captain's stick.
With a half a step on the defense, Littlejohn drove down the left wing before flipping a close-in backhander past Ryan Nie (31 saves) for his 15th goal of the season. Picking up the only assist on the play, Doucet notched his team-high 29th assist and extended his point-scoring streak to six games.
Elmira doubled their lead on the only goal of the second period as Bobby Robins snapped a sharp angle drive off of the mask of Nie at 9:19 for his 10th of the year on feeds from Matt Gens and Dan Kronick. It was the first point in a Jackals uniform for Gens in his fourth game with the club.
The goal by Robins would hold up as the game-winner, but Elmira surrendered their ninth shorthanded goal of the year to Rob Drummond at 9:25 of the final period to cast some doubt in the minds of Jackals fans with Johnstown's Greg Gallagher in the box.
But almost as quickly as the wind was knocked out off Elmira's sails on the Chiefs' goal, the Jackals blew back into the offensive zone to instantaneously regain their two-goal lead twenty-nine seconds later.
It was the captain again on the receiving end of pretty pass as Littlejohn collected a feed off of the wall from Kyle Wharton. Busting down the slot, Littlejohn made short work of the rush as he ripped a shot off the crossbar and in for his second of the night and 16th of the year at 9:54. Wharton and Pilkington drew the assists on Littlejohn's goal that capped off his fourth two-goal effort of the season.
Chaz Johnson, celebrating his 24th birthday, failed to pick up a point in the game and saw his club record ten-game point-scoring streak come to end. It was the first time that Johnson was held off of the score sheet since December 8th in Cincinnati. During his streak, Johnson scored ten goals and notched five assists.
Kicking off a four-game in five-night stretch with the win, the Jackals improved to 28-10-1-2 (59 points) and hit the road Friday for a 7:30 face-off against the Trenton Devils at Sovereign Bank Arena. Broadcast coverage begins with the Hill Top Inn Countdown to Face-Off at 7 p.m. on MAGIC FM (92.7/97.7) and on-line at www.jackalshockey.com.
Elmira's next home game is Saturday when the Reading Royals visit First Arena for a 7:35 p.m. contest. Good seats are still available by visiting the Gray Street box office - First Arena, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, or charge-by-phone at 722-3711 or 734-PUCK (7825). Saturday is Donor Awareness Night presented by Williams Toyota and Arnot Health will be giving away pucks to the first 1,000 fans through the gate.
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