For the second consecutive game, the Elmira Jackals scored eight goals, this time in an 8-1 rout of the Gwinnett Gladiators on Friday night at First Arena in front of 3,512 fans. It was the second time this season the Jackals thwarted the Gladiators in impressive fashion, with Elmira collecting an 11-3 victory at Gwinnett on Nov. 14.

The Jackals came into the contest coming off a weekend in which they had taken down the Toledo Walleye on the road by scores of 7-2 and 8-2. Justin Donati, who had two goals and two assists on Friday in his first game back from the all-star break, converted first for the Jackals. At 7:01, his brother Tyler Donati wristed a shot from the slot that was stopped by Gladiators goaltender David Brown, but Justin knocked in the rebound as the Jackals struck first.

At 19:28 of the first period, Mat Robinson snuck into the Gladiators zone on the right wing boards, threw the puck in front that deflected to Olivier Proulx, who sent it top shelf past Brown to make it 2-0 in favor of the Jackals. It would prove to be the game-winning goal, Proulx's second in as many games.

Scott Mifsud scored the lone goal for the Gladiators. It came on the power play at 4:01 of the second period, as he sent a rebound past Jackals netminder Julien Ellis, who had initially stopped a Drew Paris shot from the blue line.

Near the midway point of the game, the Jackals took command. On the power play, Justin Donati redirected a Tyler Donati shot into the net at 9:51 of the second period to make it 3-1. Moments later, with the Jackals short handed, Brennan Turner banked a puck off the glass to give Chaz Johnson, playing in his first game since Dec. 5, and Yannick Tifu a two-on-one. Johnson fed the puck cross ice for Tifu who drove it past Brown to make it 4-1 at 10:30 of the second period. It was the Jackals first short-handed goal since Dec. 27 at Wheeling.

Later in the second period, Justin Donati and Matt Lowry converted on a beautiful two-on-one passing play. Lowry on the left-wing side fed the puck rink wide to Donati who waited until the last moment to send it back to Lowry who tapped it in backdoor past Brown to make it 5-1 at 17:46 of the second period.

In the third period, the Jackals added three more goals. Keegan Dansereau's shot from the right circle made its way to the back of the net past a screen set up by Wes Cunningham at 5:44 to give the Jackals a 6-1 advantage. Minutes later, Dansereau split defenders on a pass to Brendan Connolly who scored his sixth goal of the season on the play to make it 7-1. At 13:26, R.J. Anderson one-timed a puck in off a pass from Bear Trapp to give the Jackals an 8-1 lead and close out the scoring.

Elmira received a +5 from Anderson, while Cunningham and Justin Donati each collected a +4 in the win. Tyler Donati had a +3, and had four assists in the win. Over the last three games, he has twelve points (3g-9a).

It was the first time since they joined the ECHL that the Jackals scored eight goals in consecutive games. The Jackals have scored 23 goals over the last three games while allowing only five goals over the last nine periods. In two games this season against the Gladiators, Elmira has outscored Gwinnett 19-4.

With the victory, Ellis improved to 8-3-0-0 with the Jackals, making 24 saves in the win. Brown stopped 26 of 34 Jackals shots, falling to 6-9-2-0.

Elmira's record improved to 21-17-2-2, and the Jackals are now winners of three straight games. The Jackals climbed to two points back of the Reading Royals for first place in the American East Division. The Gladiators fell to 19-18-3-2, having lost five of their last six games.

The Jackals and Gladiators battle tomorrow night at First Arena at 7:35 p.m. Tickets are still available. The First Arena Box Office opens at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, while fans wishing to order tickets over the phone can call (607) 734-PUCK (7825). Fans can also click here to purchase tickets.

The Elmira Jackals: Ten Years in the Twin Tiers

UPCOMING FIRST ARENA EVENTS

JACKALS HOCKEY

Elmira vs. Gwinnett

Saturday, January 30

7:35 p.m.

Elmira vs. Toledo

Sunday, January 31

4:05 p.m.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

Tuesday, February 2

7:00 p.m.

ELMIRA BULLDOGS COACHED BY DENNIS RODMAN

Elmira vs. Garden State

Friday, February 12

7:00 p.m.

Elmira vs. New York

Saturday, February 13

7:00 p.m.