News release
31 December 2005
Glens Falls, NY The Elmira Jackals twice led the Adirondack Frostbite by a goal before losing in a shootout 3-2 Saturday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
After a rough first period where Adirondack out-shot the Jackals 18-4 but failed to score, Elmira took the lead on a horrible Frostbite mistake. Goaltender Derek Gustafson came forward out of his net to play a loose puck, but hit Jackals forward Josh Tataryn with his clearing attempt. Tataryn corralled the puck and then easily wristed the puck past a stranded Gustafson at 2:49 for his first goal since being traded to Elmira. But Adirondack struck back, rookie forward Mike Berry tied the game at 4:36 on the power play to even the score at one. Elmira, however, wasted no time in regaining their lead. Jason Sessa bombed a slap shot that ripped past Gustafson from the top of the right face off circle at 5:24, pulling the Jackals ahead 2-1. But Berry wasnt done quite yet. The Frostbite rookie finished off a brilliant 2-on-1 with Kevin Watters, knocking in his second goal of the game at 14:06 to tie the game at two.
Elmira came out in the third period like Adirondack started the game, pushing the tempo and holding the advantage in shots. The Jackals out-shot the Frostbite 14-10 over the final period, but it was the goaltenders that out-shined the scorers as both Gustafson and Elmiras Ryan McIntosh made excellent saves to send the game into a shootout.
In the overtime session, Berry immediately put Adirondack in front by scoring in round one. Jarrett Konkle tied it at one in the fourth round, but Mart Hurtubise scored in the bottom of the round as they Jackals lost the shootout 2-1.
Derek Gustafson earned the win, despite his costly blunder, stopping 28-of-30 shots and 4-of-5 in the shootout. Ryan McIntosh was sensational in goal for the Jackals, making 38 saves on 40 shots and 2-of-4 in the shootout. Adirondack was 1-for-7 on the power play in the game, while Elmira was 0-for-5.
After passing into the New Year en route from Adirondack to Richmond, the Jackals are back in action Sunday for a 4 pm afternoon matinee against the Riverdogs.