News release
30 March 2015
ELMIRA, NY - March 30, 2015 - The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and the AHL's Rochester Americans, finish their seven-game homestand on Wednesday against the Wheeling Nailers and then embark on a three-game road trip to Fort Wayne, Toledo and Indianapolis.
Overall Record: 31-28-7; sixth place in East Division, ninth place in Eastern Conference
4/1 vs. Wheeling Nailers - 7:05 p.m. EDT
On Wednesday, the Jackals will host the Wheeling Nailers for the 11th of 13 meetings this season and the fifth of six at First Arena. In the last meeting on March 21st, Trevor Gerling scored his first professional goal on a breakaway pass from Keith Buehler. The Jackals hung on to defeat the rival Nailers 2-1. The previous night, the Jackals and Nailers battled through the first 49:34 without a goal, until former Jackal Chaz Johnson opened the scoring for the Nailers. Travis Fullerton stopped 25 of 28 shots faced for the victory. Elmira holds a 40-29-11 all-time record against Wheeling.
4/3 at Fort Wayne Komets - 8:00 p.m. EDT
On Friday, the Jackals begin their final lengthy road trip with a visit to Fort Wayne, Indiana for the third and final meeting of the season, and the second of two at the Memorial Coliseum. Last Wednesday, the Jackals hosted the Komets for the lone matchup at First Arena this year, but were out-done by Fort Wayne's high-flying offense in a 7-3 defeat. Taylor Stefishen, Mike Seidel and Steven Shamanski scored for the Jackals, but they were unable to overcome Fort Wayne's five-goal first period. The last time these two teams met at the Memorial Coliseum occurred on January 30th, 2015. The Jackals are 8-4-0 all-time against Fort Wayne.
On Saturday, the Jackals will make their only trip to the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio for the fifth and final meeting this season. These two Eastern Conference foes finished their season meetings at First Arena on March 16th, and the Walleye shutout the Jackals 3-0. Back on March 6th, the Jackals and Walleyeput on an exciting show for the home crowd as the Jackals clawed their way back into the contest with goals from Lucas Bloodoff and Mike Seidel. However, their furious push for the equalizer fell one goal short despite firing 21 shots on goal in the third period. Elmira is 10-9-2 all-time against Toledo.
The Jackals finish their three-game road trip with a visit to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana. Sunday's matchup marks the fourth and final meeting this season and the second of two in Indy's home barn. The last meeting occurred on February 21st in Elmira, and despite out-shootout the Fuel 45-25, the Jackals fell 5-2. Ryan Rashid put the Jackals on the board in the first period and Riley Wetmore kept the comeback alive in the third period, but the Fuel added two empty-net goals to seal the Jackals' fate. The previous night, the Jackals jumped out in front of the Fuel in the opening frame with Kevin Hart's second goal of the season.
The Jackals allowed a season-high five goals in the first period and fell 7-3 against the Fort Wayne Komets. Mike Seidel and Ryan Rashid recorded two-point nights and Matt Harlow earned his first professional point in the loss. The first period was dominated by the Komets, who registered five unanswered goals in the opening stanza. Eric Faille started the scoring with a snipe from the right circle past Travis Fullerton for his 21st goal of the season at 4:02 of the first frame. Faille added his second of the night at 7:17 of the first period with a power-play tally. Christian Ouellet buried his 15th goal of the season at 10:47 of the period with a wrist shot past Fullerton on a two-on-one rush. Travis Fullerton was pulled for Sam Marotta following Ouellet's marker. Shawn Szydlowski didn't waste any time netting his 32nd of the year with a backhand past Marotta on the first shot he faced, at 11:13 of the frame. The Komets capitalized on the power-play again in the opening period with Ouellet's second of the night and 16th of the season. Taylor Stefishen provided a spark for the Jackals with his 15th goal of the season just 17 seconds into the second period. Ryan Rashid and Mike Seidel earned the helpers on Stefishen's wrap-around marker. However, Szydlowski reestablished Fort Wayne's five goal advantage at 3:02 of the period with his second of the night and 33rd of the season. Just 2:08 later, Szydlowski turned from goal-scorer to dish master as he fed Matt Pistilli for his 21st of the season. Mike Seidel added his team-leading 21st of the year at 17:53 of the middle frame to make it 7-2 Fort Wayne after 40 minutes. Matt Harlow and Ryan Rashid added the assists on Seidel's goal. Harlow's helper was his first professional point. The lone goal scored in the third period came off of Steven Shamanski's stick at 12:18 of the frame. Nick Tuzzolino and Thomas Nesbitt added the assists on Shamanski's 13th goal of the season.
The Jackals stood toe-to-toe with the top-ranked Florida Everblades, but Alex Lavoie's goal with just 33 seconds remaining lifted the Everblades past Elmira. Steven Shamanski, Mitch Holmberg and Joe Houk scored for the Jackals. The Jackals started the scoring at 14:34 of the opening frame with Steven Shamanski's 14th goal of the season. Joe Houk and Matt Harlow assisted Shamanski's marker. His 14th goal of the year set a new Jackals single-season record for a defenseman, which was previously set by Eric Regan. The Everblades would even the scoring at 17:37 with Steven Whitney's seventh goal of the season. Alex Lavoie and Nicolas Deschamps assisted Whitney's tally. Neither team scored in the middle frame as the chippy play picked up and the tempers began to flair. There were five minor penalties called in the second period, but neither squad could capitalize on its opportunities. The Jackals carried a power-play into the third period, but were unable to take advantage. Then, at 1:53 of the frame, Mitch Holmberg broke in on a breakaway and buried a beautiful backhand past Matt Ginn for his sixth goal of the season. Florida evened the score again at 6:01 of the third period with Matt Marquardt's 15th goal of the season, which came unassisted. Joe Houk would elevate Elmira over the Everblades with his first goal as a Jackal and second as a pro at 10:35 of the final frame. Matt Harlow earned the helper on Houk's go-ahead-goal. However, at 14:22, Mike Little tied the game with his 13th goal of the season, assisted by Marquardt and Mitch Wahl. It appeared as if the contest was headed towards extra time until Alex Lavoie tapped in his 19th goal of the season with 33 seconds remaining in regulation. Jesse Graham and Nicolas Deschamps assisted the game-winner. Ray Kaunisto added an empty-net marker with four seconds remaining to seal the Florida victory.
The Elmira Jackals donned pink sweaters as they hosted their 2nd annual Pink in the Rink game presented by ArnotHealth, but in the end they fell to Florida, 3-1. The Jackals struck first at 5:14 of the opening frame when Thomas Nesbitt redirected Kevin Hart's point shot past Matt Ginn. Trevor Gerling also assisted Nesbitt's 12th goal of the season. However, the Everblades would even the scoring at 12:00 of the first period with Adam Brace's team-leading 32nd goal of the season. Cameron Burt and former Jackal Rob Florentino assisted Brace's tying tally. Neither team pushed ahead in the second period, so the game moved to the third period tied 1-1. Just 2:06 into the final frame of regulation, Rob Florentino blasted his fifth of the year past Travis Fullerton to put Florida ahead 2-1. Nicolas Deschamps and Cameron Burt added the helpers. The Jackals battled for the full sixty minutes and deserved a better fate than the last two games provided, but a win was not in the cards tonight. Adam Brace added the empty-net goal with 28 seconds left to seal the win for Florida. Travis Fullerton stopped 27 of 29 shots faced, but was handed the loss. Matt Ginn turned aside 40 of 41 shots faced to earn the win. The Jackals went 0-for-3 with the man advantage and Florida went 0-for-2 on the power-play.