News release
17 March 2007
Frank Littlejohn and Glenn Detulleo tip the puck past Muskegon's Clayton Pool.
Elmira, NY The Muskegon Fury took a two-game weekend sweep over the Elmira Jackals with a 6-2 victory Saturday night on Green Ice at First Arena.
The Fury wasted little time picking up the offense they generated on Friday against Elmira. Philippe Plante scored a power play goal just 2:29 into the first period, assisted by Kevin Cooper and Todd Robinson, putting Elmira on their heels. Joe Pomaranski doubled the Muskegon lead when he knocked in a perfect pass from Mike Watt at 5:26 for a short-handed goal. Watt then made it 3-0 Fury when he tipped a Josh Chase pass into the top of the net at 7:23. Jackals head coach Paul Gillis then used his only timeout to settle the troops down after the early barrage and his strategy worked. One minute later Frank Littlejohn redirected a shot by Nick Harloff from the blue line past goaltender Clayton Pool at 8:24; Littlejohns 34th goal of the season, a career high, assisted by Harloff and Joe Markusen. The Jackals continued to draw on their sudden momentum shift, but Pool came up with some fine saves to maintain Muskegons 2-goal lead through the first period.
In the second period Elmira looked to build off their energy of the 1st, but were denied twice by the goal post as both Nick Harloff and Erik Anderson hit the iron. Mike Watt scored his second goal of the game at 9:40, Muskegons 2nd power play goal of the contest, assisted by Robinson and Plante for a 4-1 Fury lead. But the Jackals grabbed a late goal to stay in the game when Glenn Detulleo tipped Andrei Lupandins shot from the point into the net as the buzzer sounded ending the period. The referees conferred and awarded the goal to the Jackals at 19:59, with assists going to Lupandin and David Morelli.
Todd Robinson against quelled the energy inside First Arena when he faked out goaltender Zach Sikich, skated around the back of the goal and tucked the puck inside the far post just 1:26 into the third period, making it 5-2 Fury. Late in the period Elmira pulled Sikich for the extra attacker, only to have Robinson score an empty net goal at 18:26, his 2nd goal of the night, capping off a 6-2 Muskegon win.
Clayton Pool earned the win in goal for the Fury as he made 30 saves on 32 shots in his 30th win of the year. Zach Sikich took the loss in goal for Elmira as he blocked 22-of-27 shots. The Jackals dropped to 27-39-1 on the season and finished 0-for-6 on the power play; Muskegon was 2-for-4 on the power play.
The Jackals will now head out on the road as they finish off the weekend with a Sunday afternoon game at McMorran Place Arena against the Port Huron Flags for a 5:00 pm face off. Elmira returns to First Arena on Friday March 23rd as they host the Kalamazoo Wings for a 2-game weekend series.