News release
26 January 2005
Elmira, NY The Elmira Jackals twice squandered a 3-goal lead as they lost to Danbury 6-4 Wednesday night at the First Arena.
Elmira came out of the gates absolutely smoking, wasting no time to display vintage Jackals hockey. Elmira went ahead 1-0 on a Jamie Thompson goal just 4:05 into the contest, assisted by Nathan Gillies and George Pujacs. Gillies made it 2-0 a mere two minutes later, assisted by Thompson at 6:19. Late in the first period Jason Sessa scored a highlight reel goal at 18:33 to cap a phenomenal twenty minutes of hockey for the hometown team.
However the Connecticut garbage haulers again went to work in the second period, one they have been traditionally very good at against Elmira. Danbury got on the board a mere 50 seconds in to the second, as John Morlang scored an unassisted goal. Gillies scored a power play goal at 2:31, his second of the night, to regain the 3-goal cushion. However, that would be the last time Elmira put the puck in the net during the game. Danbury scored five unanswered goals to turn the tables and win the game. Jeff Daw, Gerry Hickey and Morlang each scored goals in a span of three minutes in the middle part of the period to tie the score 4-4 going into the final period. After each team had just 7 shots each after the first period, Danbury out-shot the Jackals 22-7 in the second frame.
In the final period, usually Elmiras best, Danbury was unrelenting, scoring twice more to seal an impressive comeback win. First Nic Bilotto scored the game winner at 4:24 on the power play from Mike Bayrack and Bruce Richardson. Then late in the game Morlang earned a hat-trick by scoring a power play goal with just 57 second remaining in the contest. Danbury finished 3-for-9 on the power play, while Elmira was 1-for-4 on the man advantage.
Scott Stirling stopped 15-of-19 in goal for the Trashers, while Greg Hewitt took the loss, making 41 saves on 47 shots in the process. 19 shots on goal is one of the lowest single game totals for Elmira this season.
The Jackals are back in action for two games in Glens Falls, NY against the Adirondack Frostbite. They will drop the puck at 7:05 pm both Friday and Saturday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Elmira will then return home Friday, February 4th as they host the Port Huron Beacons for a 7:30 contest at the First Arena.