News release
11 December 2004
Flint, MI The Elmira Jackals jumped on the frozen dance floor with the Flint Generals Saturday night looking to waltz their way out of a 4-game winless skid, but the home team would have the better evening as Flint won 4-1.
With a new refrigeration ice plant at Peranis Hockey World Arena & Event Center installed at the beginning of the season, Elmira knew that their main obstacle would be the opposing team.
Early in the first period, Flint made defenseman Chris Shaw pay for taking a retaliatory penalty as Bobby Reynolds scored his 8th goal of the season, a power play goal at 3:15, assisted by Jim Duhart and Mike Kinnie for a 1-0 lead. Elmira had their own chance on the man-advantage when Bobby Kulkulka took a holding penalty at 8:27, but the Jackals could not convert to opportunity. Darren Van Oene dropped the gloves with Mike Tobin with four minutes left in the period, but few punches were thrown, and even fewer connected as the two grappled to the ice. Flint added to their lead late in the period as Jim Duhart scored the teams second power play goal at 18:06; Reynolds picked off an icing attempt by the Jackals and found Duhart standing all alone at the top of the Elmira crease.
In the second period the Generals added to their lead when the rookie Kinnie scored his team-leading 16th goal of the year on a deflection from a John DiPace shot at 5:34. But the middle twenty-minutes was best defined by the dancing; three fights and 46 minutes of penalties tallied by the two clubs. First Derek Campbell fought with John DiPace at 11:27; then Nathan Gillies went toe-to-toe with Jim Duhart at 14:21, and finally Simon Poirier dropped the gloves with Jason Selleke at 16:09.
The third period the Jackals continued to pound the dance floor and attack the net of Dan McIntyre, but it was the Generals who again struck first. DiPace scored at 4:37, assisted by Leo Thomas to give Flint a 4-0 lead. Greg Koehler tangoed with Andrei Lupandin at 9:24, a two-step that evolved from more commotion after a whistle. Elmira did salvage some pride by avoiding being shutout for the second consecutive night. Darren Van Oene took a great pass from Derek Campbell and Greg Koehler to get behind the Generals defense and lifted the puck over a charging Dan McIntyre at 19:21.
Dan McIntyre failed to earn the shutout, but did get the win, stopping 29-of-30 shots thrown his way; Kevin Kurk made 16 saves on 20 Flint shots in his third professional start.
The Jackals will close out the week with their first trip to Fort Wayne this season, facing off with the Komets at 5 pm Sunday afternoon at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Indiana. Elmiras next home game comes on Sunday December 19th at 5 pm as they host the Flint Generals at the First Arena.