Wildcatters Too Much For Jackals In 6-3 Verdict

Published on February 14, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


Defenseman David Schulz scored once and set up two other goals to lead the league-leading Texas Wildcatters to a 6-3 win over the Elmira Jackals Thursday night in front of 3,209 fans at First Arena. The loss was the third in a row for Elmira while the win was the eleventh straight for Texas, now with 85 points.

After a 1-1 standoff in the first period that saw the clubs exchange goals just sixteen seconds apart, Frank Littlejohn for the Jackals and Ross Carlson for the Wildcatters, Schulz put the visitors in front to stay early in the second period.

With the Jackals short a man with Littlejohn off for cross-checking to start the period, Schulz released a shot from the right point that hit a stick in front of goaltender Joel Martin (32 saves) and deflected past his blocker just twenty-seven seconds in for a 2-1 lead.

Elmira had a chance to tie with a man advantage of its own, including 1:20 of 5-on-3 time, a short time later. The Jackals managed just one shot with two Wildcatters in the box before Dan Welch exited and joined the remaining penalty kill.

Welch picked up a loose puck at center and cut across the Elmira line, going towards the right wing wall before turning and breaking free of defenseman Chris Busby. Matt Gens lent support, but Welch muscled his way to the front and poked in a one-hander at 5:46 to extend the Texas lead to 3-1.

Elmira drew to within one on a similar individual effort by newcomer Igor Pohanka, making his Jackals debut after coming over from Augusta in exchange for Dan Kronick on Tuesday. Pohanka made it 3-2 as fought off a backcheck and forced his ninth goal of the year through the pads of Jeff Petrasiak (24 saves) with 2:56 left in the second period.

But once again, Texas would have the answer shortly thereafter and 1:17 later, they had their two-goal lead back when defenseman John Adams angled home his sixth of the year from the bottom of the left circle for a 4-2 reading at the end of forty minutes.

John McNabb scored twice in the third to salt the game away. His team-leading 22nd of the year was a loose puck on a Schulz point drive from a face-off win and his 23rd was into an empty net with 2.6 seconds left in the contest.

Pierre-Luc Faubert notched his 20th goal in attempting to rally the Jackals at 11:56 of the third, but it would be enough.

The loss ended the Jackals' five-game home ice win streak and the club will look to turn things around when the Gwinnett Gladiators come to First Arena Friday night in a 7:35 face-off. Then, it's North Division leader Cincinnati on Saturday (7:35 p.m.) with Trenton closing out the four-game home stand Tuesday (7:05 p.m.).

Tickets for all three games are on sale now at the Gray Street box office - First Arena, www.ticketmaster.com, or charge-by-phone at 722-3711 or 734-PUCK (7825).



ECHL Stories from February 14, 2008


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