News release
17 December 2005
Flint, MI The Elmira Jackals earned a point, losing to the Flint Generals 2-1 in a 10-round shootout Saturday night at Peranis Arena.
During a sloppy, slow-paced first period Flint took the lead on an equally discombobulated goal. The Generals captain Terry Marchant dumped the puck into the right wing corner of the Jackals zone from the blue line, teammate Sean Starke chased after it with two Jackals defenders. Somehow in the ensuing strum, the puck kicked out of the corner, took a deflection, and ended up on the stick of an unmarked Matt Elich right in front of the goal. Elich had all the time in the world to beat goaltender Nick Boucher for a 1-0 lead at 16:54 of the first.
After an up-and-down second period where Elmira out-shot flint 11-9, the Jackals struck back with an equalizer early in the third period. Left wing Charlie Elezi blocked a clearing attempt by a Flint defender, passed it to newly activated forward Andy Rozak, who in turn fed Jackals defenseman Florian Iberer in the high slot. Iberer blasted his shot up into the top corner, above the blocker of Generals goalie Peter Brady, for his first goal of the season, tying the game 1-1 at 7:52; Rozak and Elezi were credited with assists.
In the shootout Konstantin Kalmikov opened the scoring in the 3rd round, but in the bottom of the 4th round Marchant tied it up at 1-1. Jackals defenseman Mike Dombkiewicz made it 2-1 Jackals during the 7th round, but with the game on the line, Elich came up big for the Generals again, tying the shootout at two. After two more unsuccessful rounds, Sean Starke snapped a wrister past Boucher in the last half of the 10th round, securing the extra point for Flint.
Peter Brady was superb in goal for Flint, earning the shootout win by stopping 27-of-28 shots in regulation and 8-of-10 in the shootout. Jackals goalie Nick Boucher was equally spectacular for Elmira, making a phenomenal 35 saves on 36 shots and blocking 7-of-10 in the shootout.
The Jackals continue the travels with their 6th straight road game on Wednesday December 21st in Virginia against the Richmond Riverdogs at 7:05 pm. Elmiras next home game is on Friday, December 23rd as they host the Danbury Trashers for a 7:05 pm face off at the First Arena.