News release
31 March 2010
The Elmira Jackals defeated the Reading Royals 5-3 on Wednesday night at First Arena in Elmira, N.Y., giving the Jackals their first division championship since joining the ECHL. The Jackals, who will be the American Conference's third seed after winning the East Division, will play the Florida Everblades in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, with the series coming to Elmira on Friday, Apr. 9, Saturday, Apr. 10, and Sunday, Apr. 11.
The Jackals took a 1-0 lead at the 7:32 mark of the first period, one-timing a puck past Royals goaltender Matt Dalton glove side as Elmira converted on the man advantage to take the lead.
At 11:22, the Jackals added to the lead, when Justin Donati's slap shot beat Dalton between the pads, giving him his 98th point of the season. If he scores two more points, Justin and Tyler Donati would become the first brothers in professional hockey history to each record 100 points in the same season.
Elmira took a 2-0 lead into the second period and added to the lead at the 4:36 mark, when Wes Cunningham's wrist shot flew past Dalton to give the Jackals a 3-0 advantage. Tyler Donati and Keegan Dansereau had the assists, upping Tyler's league-leading scoring total to 110 points.
The Royals commenced a comeback bid at 5:21 of the second period, when Marc Cavosie wrapped the puck from behind the net past Jackals goaltender Chris Holt to make it 3-1 in favor of the Jackals.
At 9:55, Aaron Brocklehurst knocked in a loose puck in front as the Royals converted on the power play, making it 3-2.
Nearing the end of the second period, Dansereau scored a crucial goal to give pad the Jackals lead and make the score 4-2, spinning around from the right boards and slapping the puck past Dalton's glove at 19:19. Wes Cunningham had an assist on the play, his third point of the game.
At 10:07 of the third period, Chaz Johnson redirected an R.J. Anderson shot on the power play to make it 5-2 Jackals.
Yannick Riendeau gave the Royals life at 13:10 of the third period, tipping in a Ben Gordon shot, but 5-3 was the closest Reading would get, as Elmira clinched the division in its final home game of the regular season.
Holt made 24 saves on 27 shots, increasing his record to 9-4-1-0 with the Jackals. Dalton's record dropped to 21-20-0-4 this season.
With the win, the Jackals improved to 36-25-6-3 and end their home schedule with a record of 20-9-5-2 at First Arena. The Royals fell to 35-29-1-5 and need one point to clinch the last remaining playoff spot in the American Conference.
The Jackals will host games three, four, and five of their American Conference quarterfinals battle with the Everblades. The puck drops at 7:35 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (if necessary) and at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday (if necessary).
Elmira heads to Trenton on Friday to take on the Devils in the Jackals' second-to-last game of the regular season.