News release
6 January 2006
Glens Falls, NY The Elmira Jackals earned some justice with a 2-1 shootout victory of the Adirondack Frostbite Friday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Seven days after losing to Adirondack in a shootout in Glens Falls, the Jackals got their just revenge, beating the Frostbite soundly in the shootout to earn their second straight win. Both teams came out firing the first period, but the goaltenders held the game scoreless.
In the second period Jason Sessa snapped a twisted wrist shot past the blocker of Derek Gustafson to give Elmira the lead at 5:40 of the second period. Carl Drakensjo and Trevor Burgess earned the assists on Sessas 7th goal in his 11th game for Elmira.
But Adirondack would not go quietly in their own building. After failing to score on a power play to start the third period, Adirondack got another power play just after the five-minute mark. Rookie Kevin Watters took advantage of the opportunity and tied the score at 6:34 with a power play goal from Scott Drevitch and Blue Bennefield. Elmira then turned on the pressure and nearly regained the lead numerous times, but they were denied once by the crossbar and several times on big saves from Gustafson. At the other end Ryan McIntosh made three big saves in the final six minutes to help the game into the shootout.
In the shootout Elmira wasted no time taking the lead when Konstantin Kalmikov snapped a shot past Gustafson for a 1-0 lead. Frostbite forward Mark Hutubise tied the game with a nifty move in the bottom of the round, but then the Jackals pulled away. Jarrett Konkle went top shelf over the glove in round two for a 2-1 lead, then McIntosh made a big save on Watters to keep him out of the net. Both Sessa and Sylvain Cloutier failed to score in the third round due to a great save by Gustafson and Cloutier missing the net completely.
Then, with a one goal lead, Jackals Head Coach Perry Florio threw a curveball. He selected Josh Piro for the fourth round, even though Piro had yet to take at shootout attempt this season. Piro did not disappoint his coach, pulling the puck around the poke-check from Gustafson before tucking it under the glove for a 3-1 Elmira lead in the shootout. The Frostbite, needing to score to stay alive in the overtime session, sent out Mike Berry who had only missed once in shootouts this year. Ryan McIntosh was not fooled by Berrys moves and stoned him on the far post to earn the two-points and send Elmira home victorious.
Ryan McIntosh earned his 5th win of the season, and Elmiras first against Adirondack this year, by making 27 saves on 28 shots in the game and going 3-for-4 in the shootout. It was McIntoshs second consecutive victory and third straight game in which he has earned Elmira at least one point in the standings. Derek Gustafson stopped 29-of-30 in regulation, but was proven a mere mortal in the shootout with one save on four attempts.
Elmira returns to the First Arena for the first of seven straight home games Saturday night as they host Adirondack for a 7:05 pm face off. Sunday the Richmond Riverdogs come to town to take on the Jackals in a 4:05 pm afternoon matinee.