News release
24 March 2010
The Elmira Jackals overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period and earned a point in an overtime loss to the Kalamazoo Wings at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Mich. on Wednesday night, falling by a score of 5-4.
Andrew Fournier started the scoring just 27 seconds into the first period, knocking in a loose puck for his 23rd goal of the season in off a Dean Strong shot to make it 1-0 in favor of the K-Wings.
The Jackals tied the game at 9:25 when Thomas Beauregard scored his first goal with the Jackas from the slot, beating Ryan Nie glove side to tie the game 1-1. Tyler Donati and Chris Korchinski had the assists on the goal.
The teams skated into the second period tied up, but that changed quickly when Sam Ftorek knocked in a rebound from a Darryl Lloyd breakaway at 2:45, giving Kalamazoo the 2-1 advantage.
Elmira once again tied the game when R.J. Anderson's wrist shot from the slot flew past Nie at 13:59 to make it 2-2, with assists going to Tyler and Justin Donati.
The K-Wings scored a backbreaking goal at 19:41 of the second period, when Dean Strong knocked in a loose puck in the crease past Jackals goaltender Andy Chiodo to give Kalamazoo a 3-2 lead entering the second intermission.
The Kalamazoo lead became two goals at 2:08 of the third period when Lloyd's backhander from the right circle beat Chiodo five hole to make it 4-2.
Elmira began its comeback at 14:46 when Maxime Gratchev's one-timer from the right side of the K-Wings zone beat Nie stick side to make it 4-3. The goal was Gratchev's first since returning from Rochester of the AHL and his 40th point of the season with the Jackals. Assists on the play went to Brendan Connolly and Wes Cunningham.
Late in the game the Jackals had a five-on-three power play and used it to their advantage. Tyler Donati's wrist shot from the high slot soared past Nie to even the score 4-4, with assists going to Brendan Connolly and Maxime Gratchev. The goal was Donati's 37th of the season and his league-leading 104th point.
In overtime, Strong's drive from the right side of the Jackals end beat Chiodo stick side for his fifth goal against Elmira this season and the K-Wings third win against the Jackals, as Kalamazoo won 5-4.
Chiodo made 25 saves on 30 shots in the loss, falling to 8-4-2-0 with the Jackals. Nie earned his ECHL-leading 25th win, making 31 saves on 35 shots.
The Jackals can now clinch a playoff spot with a win at home on Friday at First Arena against the Trenton Devils. The Jackals record dropped to 35-23-5-3 while the K-Wings' moved back into first place in the North Division, as their record improved to 39-19-5-3.
The Jackals have now scored 258 goals this season and are three away from setting a new team mark of 261. Elmira scored 260 goals in each of its first two seasons of play in the UHL.