News release
7 November 2013
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Elmira Jackals played a strong 40 minutes in Orlando on Thursday night but they surrendered three third period goals and lost to the Solar Bears 4-1. The loss dropped the Jackals' record to 2-5-0 on the season.
Prior to tonight the Solar Bears hadn't played since Saturday, November 2 but didn't show any signs of rust early on. Just over five minutes into the game Orlando drew the first power play of the game and cashed in when Tyler Murovich scored his first goal of the season. He snuck the shot past Maxime Clermont who was back in Elmira's net after a brief call up to Albany of the American Hockey League. Faced with the early deficit, the Jackals kicked the shot production into high gear and tested Orlando goalie John Curry 16 times in the first. The veteran netminder turned away each bid, however, and the Jackals headed into the second down by one.
Artem Demkov, who came into the game with a goal in four straight contests, buoyed Elmira's offense with a quick strike to open the second. Danny New sparked the play with a low wrist shot from the left point, and Danny Hobbs forced Curry into a tough save with a deflection of the shot. Demkov pounced on the rebound and lifted it home for his team-leading sixth goal of the season. The Jackals continued to press throughout the second but were unable to pull ahead. Clermont stood tall in his crease to the tune of 13 second period saves.
Orlando came out gangbusters in the third period and scored to re-take the lead less than a minute in. Mike Ullrich took a back-door feed from Bryce Aneloski and tapped it past Clermont at the 58 second mark. That was just the start of Orlando's surge with C.J. Severyn and Scott Tanski punching home goals 1:08 apart midway through the period. At that point the Solar Bears had built a 13-3 shot advantage over the Jackals to open the period. The Jackals mounted all the offense they could to try to pull back in it, but Curry stopped eight shots over the final 10 minutes to pick up his third win of the season.
Clermont shouldered his third loss of the season in stopping 41 of 45 shots. Curry was 35 of 36 at the other end of the ice. Elmira ended the night 0-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.