Overtime Loss Pushes Jackals Against The Wall

Published on April 20, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


ELMIRA, NY - Brock Hooton scored the overtime winner for a second consecutive Saturday as the Reading Royals slipped past the Elmira Jackals 2-1 in Game Five of their North Division semifinal series. The Jackals now trail the best-of-seven series 3-2 with Game Six Sunday in Reading beginning at 5:05 p.m. Elmira needs a win to prolong their season and set up a deciding Game Seven Monday night at First Arena.

Following a four-goal third period rally last Saturday in Reading, Hooton was the overtime hero when his shorthanded goal 1:25 into the extra session lifted the Royals to a 5-4 Game Two victory.

Hooton once again was in the starring role as slid a Mike Salekin rebound low to the ice and inside the post 8:33 into the first overtime to give the Royals their second overtime win of the series as well as their second consecutive win at First Arena.

Outplayed for most of the opening period, the Jackals picked up the only goal of the opening frame with under two minutes left.

Elgin Reid fired a shot from the left point that Royals netminder Danny Taylor (27 saves) stopped, but kicked out into the circle. Benoit Doucet jumped on the loose puck and rifled in his second of the playoffs at 18:15 for the Jackals only lead of the night at 1-0.

It looked like that would be the lead carried into the third period before a disastrous clearing attempt by Jackals goaltender Joel Martin set up the tying goal.

Martin would finish with 36 saves, but with Elmira on a power play late in the second period, his clearing attempt up the left boards was intercepted by Charlie Kronscnabel. With time set to expire, Kronschnabel got off a quick shot from fifty feet out that surprised Martin and beat him on the blocker side with one second left in the period to tie the game at 1-1 after forty minutes.

Neither club was able to find the back of the net in the final period, but the Jackals had the table set for a potential game-winner when they picked up a forty-seven second 5-on-3 power play with 4:47 left in regulation. The struggling power, just 2-for-22 entering the game, was held around the perimeter and never seriously threatened for the game-winner.

Mixed into that ineffective sequence was a misplayed puck at the line that led to a shorthanded breakaway for Brock Hooton. Stonewalled by the left pad of Martin on his backhander, Hooton's follow-up glanced off the base of the left post and floated harmlessly to the end boards as the game remained tied.

With time winding down in the third, Maxime Boisclair caught the Royals defense flatfooted at the blue line with a bad change taking place at the Reading bench.

Busting down the left wing, Boisclair passed up on a shot and fed the deep slot to Bobby Robins, who steered the centering feed just wide.

As the Royals touched up, play was stopped with 5.4 seconds left as Reading was nailed for having too many men on the ice for a second time in the game and Elmira would head to overtime with a chance to win the contest on the man-up.

The overtime period opened with 1:55 left on the bench minor being served by Ned Lukacevic, but Elmira failed to put a shot on goal as the power play finished 0-for-8 on the night and is now 2-for-30 in the series.

The Royals outshot the Jackals 38-28 and went 0-for-4 on the power play.

***

The Elmira Jackals and Reading Royals meet in Game Six of the North Division semifinal series Sunday at Sovereign Center in Reading. Game time 5:05 p.m. with coverage MAGIC-FM and at www.jackalshockey.com beginning at 4:35 p.m. with the Hill Top Inn Countdown to Face-Off. Should the Jackals win Sunday, that would force a seventh and deciding game to be played Monday night in Elmira at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for a potential Game Seven at all Ticketmaster outlets including the Gray Street box office - First Arena (open 10 a.m. Monday), but on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone by calling 722-3711.

For fans that have purchased the playoff six-pack, please be prepared to use HOME GAME #4 tickets for Monday's potential game at First Arena.

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ECHL Stories from April 20, 2008


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