Three-Goal Third Lifts Jackals To 5-2 Road Win
April 18, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
READING, PA - Benoit Doucet scored the eventual game-winning goal and set up two others as the Elmira Jackals picked up a 5-2 win over the Reading Royals in Game Four of their North Division semifinal series Thursday night in front of 4,183 fans at Sovereign Center. The win evens the best-of-seven series at two games apiece and regains the home ice advantage for the Jackals. Game Five is Saturday night at First Arena in a 7:35 p.m. face-off.
Doucet's goal 3:03 into the final period was set up by a Scott May intercept in the neutral zone. Turning the rush off the boards, May started Doucet in at the blue line. Driving the left circle, the rookie winger fired a shot off of Reading goalie Danny Taylor (24 saves). Bobby Robins picked up the rebound and led Doucet behind the net. Catching Taylor slow to react, Doucet quickly circled to the front and fired in a wraparound for his first of the playoffs to make it 3-0.
It was the beginning of a spirited offensive effort in the final period by the Jackals, who had been limited to one goal in the third period in each of the first three games of the series.
Charlie Kronschnabel dashed Joel Martin's bid for a second shutout of the series with his first of the post season at 7:23, but Elmira answered back just thirty seconds later to regain their three-goal cushion.
Holding a clearing attempt in at the point, Chris Busby led the puck behind the net for Brett Pilkington. Pilkington fired a crisp centering feed to Maxime Boisclair in the right circle. Uncovered, Bosiclair rifled home his second of the playoffs at 7:53 for a 4-1 advantage.
The Jackals moved out to their biggest lead of the night with 7:59 to go in the third when Luke Fulghum redirected a Chaz Johnson centering feed past Taylor to make it 5-1.
Dany Roussin's power play goal with 4:41 left closed out the scoring.
Coming off of Tuesday's 3-2 loss in Elmira, the Jackals entered the game with the knowledge that they'd need at least one win in Reading to have a chance at advancing in the Kelly Cup playoffs. In seven previous trips to Sovereign Center this season (six in the regular season and one in the playoffs), Elmira had managed just one victory.
The second shift of the game appeared to set the tone with a heavy forecheck creating a turnover and subsequent scoring chance by the trio of Johnson, Doucet and Pierre-Luc Faubert.
With Faubert feeding the puck down the wall, Doucet began to drive to the slot. As the came off of his stick, Johnson gathered it in and sprinted through the left circle. Johnson drew Taylor to the ice and circled a shot around him for his first of the playoffs just ninety-eight seconds into the contest for a 1-0 lead.
Despite being outshot 17-8 in the second period, the Jackals added to their lead when Faubert snapped home a 5-on-3 power play goal from between the hash marks with three minutes left in the middle frame on feeds from May and Doucet.
On the night, the Jackals were outshot 37-29 while going 1-for-7 on the power play. The Royals were 1-for-6 on the man advantage.
Martin evened his playoff record at 2-2 as he stopped 35 shots in the victory.
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The Elmira Jackals and Reading Royals collide in Game Five of their North Division semifinals series Saturday night at First Arena in a 7:35 p.m. face-off. Good seats remain for another First Arena whiteout and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets including the Gray Street box office (10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, open 10 a.m. Saturday), on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone at 722-3711 or 734-PUCK (7825).
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Game Six will take place Sunday at Sovereign Center in Reading, PA, in a 5:05 p.m. face-off. Radio coverage on MAGIC-FM (92.7/97.7) and on-line at www.jackalshockey.com begins at 4:35 p.m. with the Hill Top Inn Countdown to Face-Off.
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