Mahbod's First Professional Goal Helps Jackals Beat Royals, 4-3

Published on November 5, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


Elmira, N.Y. - Samson Mahbod scored in the third period of his professional debut on Friday night at First Arena, giving the Elmira Jackals an eventual 4-3 victory over the Reading Royals. The Jackals are alone in first place in the American Conference with 14 points after the win and lead the Atlantic Division by seven points over the Trenton Devils.

Yannick Tifu had an assist for the first of his three points on the evening on an Andrew Sweetland goal at 12:26 of the first period. Tifu fed the puck through the slot to Sweetland, who buried it from the right side to make it 1-0 Jackals. John de Gray had the second assist on the goal.

Richard Greenop's first goal with the Royals tied the game up. Greenop was stationed on the left side of the goal at 17:19 of the first period when a rebound came to him, and he knocked the puck past the stick of Jackals goaltender Mike Brodeur to tie the game, 1-1.

At 5:29 of the second period, Andrew Sarauer fed the puck from behind the net to Matt Caruana in front, and Caruana scored to give Reading a 2-1 lead.

John de Gray's first goal of the season tied the game, 2-2. A.J. Perry fed Tifu, who passed the puck from the right circle to a cutting de Gray in the high slot, and de Gray's shot beat Royals goaltender Matt Dalton stick side as Elmira evened the score at 7:54 of the second.

Tifu's third point of the night gave Elmira the lead once again, 3-2. Sweetland backhanded the puck through the crease to Tifu in the right circle with the Jackals on the power play, and Tifu lifted the puck to the top right corner of the net for Elmira's league-leading 14th power-play goal of the season at 15:20 of the second. Patrick Coulombe's assist gave him seven on the season, best among ECHL blue-liners.

Ben Gordon's first tally of the 2010-2011 campaign tied the game at 6:04 of the third after a puck caromed from the end boards to the International Falls, Minn. native on the doorstep. Gordon then backhanded the puck past Brodeur to make it 3-3.

Mahbod, signed earlier today by Elmira, rushed up the ice with Dubuc as Elmira's second power-play chance of the game was expiring. The rookie dropped the puck back for Dubuc, who fed it toward the goal, and Mahbod was able to poke a loose puck into the net as the Jackals took the lead, 4-3, at 12:40 of the third.

Brodeur made 30 saves on 33 shots on the game in his first ECHL appearance since 2008 as Elmira held off Reading in the final moments of the tilt. Dalton fell to 1-2 with 38 saves on 42 shots.

The Jackals did not go on the penalty kill once during the game, and had only two power-play opportunities through the three periods.

Elmira hosts Reading on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. at First Arena.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from November 5, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central