News release
26 December 2013
ELMIRA, N.Y. - Tonight the Elmira Jackals return home from a four-game road trip to tangle with their bitter rivals - the Reading Royals. The Jackals will head back on the road after tonight so this is Elmira's final home game of 2013.
WHO: Elmira Jackals - Ottawa and New Jersey/NHL & Binghamton and Albany/AHL (9-12-3) vs. Reading Royals - Washington/NHL & Hershey/AHL (12-9-1)
WHAT: Jackals Home Game #12. The ZOOperstars! are back tonight with all of their wacky antics. Game broadcast on Gem 98.7 FM begins at 7:20.
The Jackals are facing the Royals tonight for the sixth of 16 meetings this season, and second of seven at First Arena. The Jackals are 2-2-1 against Reading this season, including an 0-1-0 mark at home, after a 3-2 win in Reading on December 15. The Royals have been Elmira's second-most common opponent to this point of the season but haven't been to Elmira since the Jackals' home opener on October 25. The Jackals have gone 2-1-1 in Reading since that time and enter play tonight with a 4-2-0 mark in their last six home games. Reading has gone 2-3-1 over its last six games, but enters tonight on a two-game win streak and 2-0-1 in its last three road games. Matt Carter, who has two points in his last three games, leads Elmira against Reading with four points (2G, 2A).
Philip-Michael Devos has been in the AHL on loan to Syracuse for the past month. Nick Tuzzolino was picked up in a trade from Fort Wayne on Nov. 25 but was called up to AHL Rochester before he ever arrived in Elmira. Both have returned to the team coming out of the Christmas break. Devos' eight assists still rate third on the team while Tuzzolino's .54 points/game average is higher than any defenseman currently with the Jackals.