The Elmira Jackals improved to 2-0-0-0 on the 2009-2010 season, as Justin Donati scored the lone goal of the ECHL's first shootout of the season and the Jackals beat the Reading Royals 6-5 (1-0).

The Jackals rallied back twice in the early part of the game. Trailing 1-0 in the first period, Chaz Johnson shot a puck off of Royals goaltender Kevin Regan that bounced off the crossbar, and Johnson knocked the puck in off the rebound for the Jackals first score of the game.

Down 2-1 in the second period, Justin Donati took a feed from Olivier Proulx in the left circle and one timed the puck past Regan for the Jackals second goal.

Proulx gave the Jackals the lead at 12:57 of the second period, receiving the puck in the slot and beating Regan five-hole, putting the Jackals up 3-2.

Forty seconds later, Chanse Fitzpatrick took advantage of a turnover by Regan, as the Royals netminder slipped and Fitzpatrick tapped the puck into a wide open net for the 4-2 lead.

After Jackals defenseman Guillaume Lepine took down Scott Langdon twice during one fight, the Jackals appeared to have all of the momentum. However, the Royals fought back at the end of the second period, with goals from Ben McLeod and Stefano Giliati to even the contest.

Fitzpatrick took a feed from Chris Korchinski and backhanded a one-timer past Regan for the 5-4 lead at 5:53 of the third period.

However, the Royals used six minutes of 5-on-3 powerplay hockey in the third period to tie the score, when Ben Gordon scored his second goal of the game to tie the score at 13:30.

The teams skated through overtime without either team scoring a goal. Donati, serving as the Jackals fourth shootout bid, gave the Jackals all they needed for the shootout victory.

Michael-Lee Teslak made 35 saves on 40 Royals shots including all five in the shootout, and Regan stopped 23 of 28 Jackals shots.

The Jackals will host the Johnstown Chiefs on Friday, October 23 at 7:35 PM at First Arena.

The Elmira Jackals: Ten Years in the Twin Tiers!

UPCOMING EVENTS AT FIRST ARENA:

JACKALS HOCKEY

Jackals vs. Johnstown, Friday, October 23, 2009

Game time: 7:35 PM

LAMB OF GOD with GWAR

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Showtime: 7:00 PM

WILLIE NELSON

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Showtime: 7:30 PM