News release
25 February 2006
St. Charles, MO The Elmira Jackals improved to a perfect 3-0-0 this season against the Missouri River Otters with a 4-1 win Saturday night
Friday night Missouri came out flying against the Jackals in the first period; Saturday was quite the opposite. The Jackals peppered the Otters net in the opening twenty minutes, out-shooting Missouri 14-8 in the first period. Rookie defenseman Bobby Gates put Elmira in the lead as he unleashed a cannon from the blue line that scorched past goalie Brendan Cuthbert at 8:48. For Gates it is his second goal of the season, assisted by Kevin Cooper and Chris Chaput.
In the second period, Elmira came out with the same energy and intensity and got another goal from their corps of talented rookies. Defenseman Chris Mann scored his first professional goal at 6:28, an unassisted wrist shot from the high slot, for a 2-0
Elmira lead. Left wing Sam Paolini scored his 12th goal of the season as he redirected a Jarrett Konkle shot past Cuthbert for a power play goal at 7:49, assisted by Konkle and Flo Iberer and Elmiras lead was 3-0. But Missouri got back some momentum near the end of the period. Brad MacMillan tipped a shot from Mark Odut past goaltender Nick Boucher to put the Otters on the board at 17:20.
But in the third period, Elmira would clamp down as they held on to their two-goal lead. Missouri gambled by pulling Cuthbert for the extra attack with two full minutes left in the game, but it would not help. Jason Sessa iced the game with Elmiras 4th goal of the night, his 16th of the season, by sending a shot from the red line into the empty net at 19:09, assisted by Chaput and Konstantin Kalmikov.
Nick Boucher quietly worked himself into a 23 saves on 24 shots effort to earn his 10th win of the season and the sweep of Missouri. Brendan Cuthbert stopped 24-of-27 in the loss for Missouri. Elmira was 1-for-8 on the power play, while Missouri was 0-for-7.
Elmira will return home on Friday March 3rd as they host the defending Colonial Cup Champion Muskegon Fury at 7:05 pm.