News release
7 January 2007
David Morelli Takes A Face Off Against Muskegon Sunday
Elmira, NY The Muskegon Fury systematically pieced apart the Elmira Jackals as they earned a 7-4 win Sunday afternoon at the First Arena.
The Jackals and Fury were both finishing off a long week of travel with a Sunday matinee in Elmira and the fatigue showed as the two teams skated to a scoreless first period.
Muskegon went on an 8-minute 3-goal tear to open the 2nd period. Josh Chase scored at 3:21, Todd Robinson cashed in with a power play goal at 7:36 and Billy Collins scored at 8:18, giving Muskegon a 3-0 lead. Scott Wray put the Jackals on the board when he scored his 16th goal of the season at 11:36, assisted by Eric Anderson and Dan Veenema, but the Fury again had the answer. Philippe Plante scored a power play goal at 13:47 to regain the visitors 3-goal lead heading into the second intermission.
In the third period Elmira got a goal from an unlikely source as forward Curtis Tidball scored at 1:18 from David Morelli; Tidballs first point of the season, cutting the Muskegon lead to 4-2. Ryan Barnes caused a turnover in the Elmira defensive zone and scored an unassisted goal at 7:17 to make it 5-2 Muskegon. Justin Kinnunen gave Muskegon their largest lead of the game when he scored at 14:05, opening up a 4-goal lead. But the Jackals clawed back again when Frank Littlejohn scored twice to keep the Jackals hopes alive. Littlejohn first scored at 15:26 finishing off a two-on-one with Curtis Tidball; Tidball and Derek Miller had assists on the goal. Littlejohns 2nd of the game, his 15th of the season came at 19:28 when he banked his own rebound off the back of goaltender Clayton Pool and into the net, assisted by Eric Lind and Yevgeny Lazarev. But time ran out on the Jackals and Philippe Plante added an empty net goal, short-handed at 19:59 to cap a 7-4 Muskegon win.
Clayton Pool earned his 24th win of the season as he made 27 saves on 31 shots as Muskegon improved to 3-1-0 against the Jackals this year. Dave Lemanowicz stopped 33-of-39 shots in goal for Elmira, who drop to 17-18-0. Muskegon was 2-for-5 on the power play, while Elmira was 0-for-3.
The Jackals will return to action next Friday, January 12th as they host the Flint Generals at 7:35 pm for the first of three-straight home games against Flint at First Arena.
Dont miss the Jackals Coachs Show on Monday, January 8th broadcast live from the Pioneer Sports Bar & Grill on South Main Street in Downtown Elmira.