News release
10 December 2005
Roanoke, VA The Elmira Jackals shrugged the proverbial monkey off their backs as they broke a 10-game winless streak by beating the Roanoke Valley Vipers 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night at the Roanoke Civic Center.
Elmiras leading goal scorer, Jarrett Konkle, put the Jackals in front with a goal at 4:31 of the opening period, assisted by Jason Sessa and Carl Drakensjo. But Roanoke would strike back at 13:23 with the equalizer from L.P. Martin. The Vipers out-shot the Jackals 12-4 in the period but found a 1-1 score after twenty minutes.
In the second period, Martin gave Roanoke their first lead with his second goal of the game a mere 34 seconds into the middle frame. But Elmiras newest edition, Jason Sessa would pull the Jackals back level at 11:11 as he scored a highlight-reel power play goal. Sessa back-checked Steve Crusco at the red line, maneuvered around one Vipers penalty killer, toe-dragged the puck through the legs of another defender, and then faked out goaltender Jamie Hodson for an unassisted goal.
In the third period Roanoke again wasted no time regaining the lead as Jan Jas scored a power play goal 23 seconds into the final frame. But Elmira again would answer the bell. Sessa scored his fourth goal in two games since returned to the Jackals, another power play goal, this time at 6:07 from John Donnelly and Trevor Burgess and the scored was tied at three.
After some great chances from both sides the game went to a shootout. Armed with some new offensive weapons, Elmira took the lead in Round 2 when their shootout specialist, Sean Regan weaved around Hodson for a 1-0 lead. Konstantin Kalmikov made it 2-0 Jackals in round three, but Roanokes top scorer David Beauregard beat Nick Boucher for a 2-1 score after three rounds. In round 5 Craig MacDonald avoided a poke-check of Hodson, pulled the puck to his back-hand and snapped the puck into the net, sending his teammates hurtling over the boards to celebrate their first win in December.
Nick Boucher earned his third win of the season by stopping 27-of-30 in goal for the Jackals, adding 3 saves on 4 shootout attempts. Jamie Hodson looked strong during regulation, making 20 saves on 23 shots, but he denied just 2-of-5 in the shootout and took the loss. Elmira finished with 24 shots in the game and went 2-for-8 on the power play. Roanoke had 30 shots on goal and was 1-for-8 with the man-advantage.
The Jackals continue their Virginia weekend by heading to Roanoke Saturday to face off against the Vipers at 7:30 pm at the Roanoke Civic Center. Sunday Elmira is back in Richmond for a 4:00 pm matinee against the Riverdogs.