News release
16 February 2007
Muskegon, MI The Muskegon Fury had two-goals from Rustyn Dolyny as they beat the Elmira Jackals 4-3 Friday night at L.C. Walker Arena.
The Jackals came out without newly acquired forward Mike Oliveira or forward Curtis Tidball, both injured during the Kalamazoo game on Wednesday night. Into the lineup went forward Noah Katz, a healthy scratch on Valentines Day, and defenseman Anthony Sarno, who signed with the Jackals on Friday morning. Elmira received an early power play when Brett Angel took a roughing minor at 8:15, but the penalty actually benefited Muskegon. Captain Rustyn Dolyny blocked a Dale Lupul shot at the blue line, collected the loose puck and raced down the ice with Todd Robinson on his wing. Dolyny snapped a pass across the ice and Robinson one-timed the puck into the net for a short-handed goal and a 1-0 Fury lead at 9:21. But Elmira fought back when Derek Miller fired a pass up the left wing to Erik Anderson, who then fired a hard wrist shot past the glove of Muskegon goaltender Ryan Cyr at 12:31, tying the game at one. Elmira took two high-sticking penalties during the final seven minutes of the period, including a 4-minute double-minor on Marc Lefebvre, which the Jackals successfully killed off.
In the second period, Dolyny erupted for two goals in the span of 12 seconds to put the Fury in front. Dolyny scored the go-ahead goal at 13:05, from Mike Watt and Adam Smyth and then off the ensuing face off Dolyny scored his second goal of the game at 13:17 to give Muskegon a 3-1 lead. But the Jackals took the momentum into the locker room at the end of the period courtesy of a Dan Veenema goal at 19:05. Veenema took a pass from Erik Anderson, skated down the left wing on a two-on-one and cranked a venomous slap shot past the left pad of Cyr and into the net for his 3rd goal of the season, assisted by Anderson and Chris Mann, making it 3-2 Fury.
Evan Kotsopoulos regained Muskegons two-goal lead when he scored at 5:16, from Todd Robinson and Dave Van Drunen. But Elmira answered immediately Brent Cullaton scored his 17th goal of the season just twelve seconds later. Cullaton one-timed a perfect pass from Scott Wray into the net at 5:30, assisted by Wray and Dale Lupul, pulling the Jackals back within one goal. Elmira continued to pepper the Muskegon goal, even pulling their goaltender for the final minute of play. But despite some excellent chances, the Jackals could not find the tying goal, falling to the Fury 4-3.
Ryan Cyr earned the win in goal for Musekgon, stopping 39-of-42 shots as the Fury improved to 40-11-1 on the season. Kris Tebbs took the loss for the Jackals, while making 33 saves on 37 shots and Elmira fell to 23-28-1. Muskegon finished 0-for-5 on the power play; while Elmira was 0-for-2.
Elmira and Muskegon will battle each other again Saturday night with a 7:30 pm face off at L.C. Walker Arena. The Jackals next home game comes on Friday, February 23rd as they host the Rockford IceHogs for the first of a three-game series at First Arena; game time is scheduled for 7:35 pm.
Dont miss the Jackals Coachs Show on Monday, February 19th broadcast live from the Pioneer Sports Bar & Grill on South Main Street in Downtown Elmira. Join Voice of the Jackals Owen Newkirk, Jackals Head Coach Paul Gillis, along with two Jackals Players from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on News Talk 1230 & 1450 AM WENY.