News release
21 April 2009
Trenton, NJ- For the first time in their ECHL existence the Elmira Jackals have clinched a Kelly Cup Playoff Series with a 5-3 win tonight over the Trenton Devils at Sovereign Bank Arena in game number seven of the North Division Semifinals. The Jackals move on to the North Division Finals to take on the Cincinnati Cyclones this Friday. Elmira was led by two point nights from Paul McIlveen, Chaz Johnson and Derek Couture while Michael Teslak was again the star of the game making 35 saves on 38 shots.
The Jackals opened the first period with Mike Sgrois first post season goal at the 8:42 mark. Chaz Johnson brought the puck out of the corner and fed Chris Korchinski who put a shot on Trenton goalie Jeff Frazee, on the back door step Sgroi fired home the rebound. 28 seconds later the Devils tied the game at 1-1 when Eric Castonguay fired a shot that was denied by Michael Teslaks right pad, Jeff Prough was denied with a huge save on the rebound but Nathan Perkovich blasted it home on the third attempt. The Devils then took a 2-1 lead at the 14:47 mark of the first when Jeff Prough netted a shorthanded goal. The first period closed out at 2-1 Trenton with a 14-9 shot advantage.
The second period shot clock was again dominated by the Devils at 14-7 but the Jackals scored the only goal. On the power play at the 8:54 mark Derek Couture moved the puck into the offensive zone and fired a shot on goal, Chris Korchinski took the rebound and batted it past Frazee for the 2-2 tie.
The Jackals played one of the better periods of the post season in the third frame of this contest. The Jackals took a 3-2 lead at 11:43 when Josh Aspenlind tipped a Paul McIlveen slap shot on the power play. Derek Couture also assisted. The Jackals extended the lead to 4-2 when Chaz Johnson won a foot race with Dylan Quale and threw a perfect pass to Pierre-Luc Faubert who blasted a shot low blocker past Frazee for his sixth goal of the post season. The Devils would pressure late in the third but Michael Teslak was again solid. With Frazee pulled the Jackals would get the 5-2 go ahead tally. Teslak made the initial save and the rebound came to Steve Yetman who launched the puck the length of the ice into the open goal. The Devils had some fight left scoring with 1:01 left in the game to make it 5-3, Dave Leaderers second of the post season. Teslak ended the evening for Elmira with 35 saves while Frazee took the 23 save loss.
The Jackals open the North Division Finals in Cincinnati this Friday, April 24th and Saturday, April 25th. The series comes to Elmira on Wednesday, April 29th, Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd . **If necessary games six and seven will be in Cincinnati on Tuesday, May 5th and Wednesday, May 6th. Join the Voice of the Jackals Nick Hulberg at for all the play by play action of round two on: WOKN 99.5 Elmira, 102.5 Corning and WVIN 98.3 Bath.
TICKETS: Tickets for the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs go on sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY!