Shorthanded Strike Sinks Jackals In Overtime 5-4
April 13, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
READING, PA - Brock Hooton scored shorthanded at 1:25 of overtime to lift the Reading Roayls to a come-from-behind 5-4 win Saturday night before 4,878 fans at Sovereign Center. The win by the Royals leveled the North Division playoff series at one game apiece with the series shifting back to First Arena Tuesday night for Game Three (7:05 p.m. face-off).
Despite coughing up the three-goal third period lead, the Jackals looked to be in good shape early in the extra session when Rob Lalonde was whistled for holding Topher Scott just fifty-six second into overtime.
But it was the Royals who registered the only three shots on goal in the extra frame, part of a 44-21 advantage overall, that had momentum playing a man down.
Picking up a loose puck in the neutral zone, Kevin Saurette sped across the Jackals line and into the left circle. He sent a pass across the slot to Hooton who ended the game by snapping in his first of the playoffs.
Hooton's heroics capped off a third period rally that saw the Royals trailing 3-0 heading into the final period before utilizing three power play goals and an even strength strike to force the sudden death period.
Dany Roussin (two goals and an assist) got the home crowd back into the contest just twenty-three seconds into the third period when he walked out of the left wing corner and stuffed a backhander between the pads of Joel Martin (39 saves) to get the Royals on the board at 3-1.
Reading's power play then took over, eventually converting on three consecutive opportunities. Roussin swiped home a Patrick Jarrett (three assists) centering feed from the deep slot at 5:11 with Matt Gens in the box as the Royals closed within 3-2.
Less than two minutes later with Pierre-Luc Faubert in the box for hooking, P.J. Atherton tied the game at 3-3 slamming home a back door feed at 7:06.
The Jackals took their final lead of the night 1:31 later as Bruce Watson's attempted centering feed caromed back on to his stick. Straddling the goal line, Watson spun and swept the puck to the front of the Reading net where it deflected off the skate of Taylor and in for a 4-3 lead at the 8:37 mark.
The final power play strike by the Royals at 12:24 set the stage for overtime when Patrik Hersley's center point drive eluded a screened Martin and tied the game at 4-4.
While the Reading man advantage was key in the win, Elmira's inability to convert with the game hanging in the balance ultimately cost them, failing to take advantage of a Mike Salekin holding call and the ensuing man-up with 2:03 left in regulation.
The Jackals ended the night 1-for-5 on the power play with a shorthanded tally against while the Royals were 3-for-8.
The opening period gave no indication of the fireworks that were to come following the previous night's one-goal affair.
Unlike Friday at First Arena, it didn't take nearly fifty minutes of hockey to get the game's first goal, but the first period nearly expired before the Jackals' power play cashed in.
A steep angle feed to the front out of the corner by Brett Pilkington was tipped in front by Bobby Robins and past Royals goaltender Danny Taylor (17 saves) with 1:04 left in the period. Robins was glued to the post to the left of Taylor and used the toe of stick for a nifty tip on his first goal of the playoffs.
Luke Fulghum added to the Jackals lead just 1:12 into the middle period after initiating a rush on a center ice turnover. Handing off to Scott, the rookie raced to the slot, then passing on a shot to draw two defenders to him. Scott then spotted a wide open Fulghum who lofted home his first of the post-season to make it 2-0.
A crazy bounce then lead to a late strike in the second period to give Elmira a 3-0 advantage at the second intermission break.
Hersley turned the puck over to Pierre-Luc Faubert behind the Reading net. Faubert quickly threw a feed to Chaz Johnson in the right circle who spun a backhander to the front. Maxime Bosiclair took a swipe at the puck which then appeared to go off of Hersley and past Taylor at 18:28 for Elmira's largest lead of the night.
***
The Elmira Jackals return home to First Arena Tuesday for Game Three of their North Division semifinals series against the Reading Royals. Game time is 7:05 p.m. and good seats remain at all Ticketmaster outlets including the Gray Street box office - First Arena (10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday), on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone at 722-3711 or 734-PUCK (7825).
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