News release
16 October 2007
The Elmira Jackals built up 2-0 and 3-1 leads, but it wouldnt be enough in a 5-3 loss to Reading Monday night in the preseason finale for both clubs played at The Body Zone in Wyomissing, PA.
The Jackals snapped an 0-for-24 power play drought when they opened the scoring at 5:48 of the first period when Jon Landry wired home a drive from the high slot. It was Landrys first goal of the preseason.
Mike McLean doubled the visitors lead just 58 seconds later when he cashed in on a Kevin Jarman rebound, slipping it past starting goaltender Curtis Darling for a 2-0 advantage.
Similar to Elmiras Saturday night 7-3 win over Trenton, the second period would play a large role in the final result. And again, the home team would benefit.
Dany Roussin sliced into the Jackals lead at 2-1 just under seven minutes into the middle period to give the Royals a lift.
Benoit Doucet regained the Jackals two-goal cushion on a nice individual effort on the teams third power play chance of the night.
Picking up a loose puck of the left boards, Doucet cut into the face-off circle, faked a shot and froze the goaltender, before drilling a shot off of Darling and in at 9:36 to make it 3-1.
Brock Hooton pulled the Royals to within 3-2 at 16:42, capitalizing on a nice give-and-go with Charlie Kronschnabel, finishing the play into a half open net on the stick side of Jackals goaltender Dan LaCosta (26 saves).
The turning point came with Elmira on a power play inside the final two minutes of the second period. P.J. Atherton picked up a lose puck and broke in on the right wing before lifting a soft shot over the shoulder of LaCosta to tie the game at 3-3 with 67 seconds left in the period.
The game-winner came at 1:38 of the final period when Joe Zappala converted on the man advantage as the Jackals had given up three goals in a 4:56 span to see the contest slip away.
Reading closed out the scoring at 9:06 when Chris Blight redirected a Phil Jarrett centering pass home for the final margin of 5-3.
Elmira was 2-for-7 on the power play, allowing a shorthanded goal, while holding the Royals to 1-of-6 on the man advantage. The Jackals out shot the Royals 35-31.
Jonathan Quick (20 saves) was perfect in net, picking up the win in his first preseason appearance after relieving Darling at 9:36 of the middle period.